New Delhi. The Central Government on Wednesday questioned the petition filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, seeking to combine the FIRs lodged in different states regarding his alleged objectionable statements made during the Ganpati festival in 2012. Is.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing before a bench of Justice Abhay S Oka, Justice Ehsanuddin Amanullah and Justice Augustine George Masih, asked how a person who has been declared a fugitive can file a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution. Mehta said, ‘His lawyer told me that they are withdrawing the case. Our reply is ready. The lawyer appearing for H.W. Naik said that he has not received any instructions regarding withdrawal of the case and in the petition, a request has been made to combine about 43 FIRs registered in different states.
The lawyer said that six FIRs are pending against his client and he will approach the High Court to quash them. The apex court directed Naik’s lawyer to file an affidavit stating whether he would continue the case or withdraw it. Along with this, the court asked Mehta to file a reply in the case. The next hearing of the case will be on October 23. Naik is currently abroad. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is also investigating his involvement in alleged terrorist activities.