Chennai: Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who has courted several controversies through his preaching and discourses, has been named as an accused in an abduction case in London by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
In May, a man had lodged a complaint with the Chennai Crime Branch that his daughter who was studying in London was allegedly abducted by a gang. The case was subsequently registered and was being probed. The man claimed that his daughter was radicalised and forced to convert into Islam during her stay in London for higher studies and fell into the trap of the gang.
Soon after, based on an order from the Home Ministry, the case was taken up by the NIA. It was reported that the girl was abducted by Bangladeshi nationals.
As per reports, apart from Zakir Naik, Nafees, son of former Bangladesh MP Sardar Shakhawat Hussain Bokul, has been named as an accused in the FIR. Nafees had allegedly befriended the girl and kidnapped her, it is said.
The NIA is probing if there is any possible role of an organised Bangladeshi group, suspected to have links with Naik, in the abduction.
The accused have reportedly been booked under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including conspiracy, criminal intimidation, kidnapping, trafficking and sexual exploitation along with wrongful confinement, extortion attempt, and death threats, reports said.