Zakir Naik's NGO gave scholarship to IS operative, claims NIA

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has recently found that an Islamic State operative Abu Anas received Rs 80,000 as scholarship from the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), the NGO of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. The 24-year-old , Anas was in regular touch with IRF officials and the money was transferred to his bank account in Tonk in Rajasthan.

Anas was arrested in Rajasthan in January last for allegedly being involve in anti-national activity. The NIA has claimed that it could be a financial assistance to the IS operative given in the name of scholarship.

According to the NIA sources, funds were transferred to Anas around the time when he was planning to travel to Syria to join the IS. He had applied for the IRF scholarship through the NGO's website and was called for an interview in Mumbai.

About Abu Anas:

• He was a formr information security analyis with TWG International at Abdis in Hyderabad.
• He was arrested by NIA as part of a multi-city IS module in January last.

What Zakir Naik said?

• Naik has denied that he is a 'terrorist influencer'.
• He said that his preaching reach almost 150 countries.

It may be recalled that Naik's NGO has been raided by Investigative agencies multiple times and the fresh raids on Tuesday last, saw agencies claiming recovery of video tapes and DVDs of Naik's public speeches, documents related to property and investment, financial transactions and foreign and domestic funding of IRF and associated companies.