India to continue pursue for extradition of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik

New Delhi: India will continue to pursue with Malaysia for early extradition of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. 

In response to queries on the matter, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said: "Government of India has made a formal request for the extradition of Dr Zakir Naik. We would continue to pursue the matter with Malaysia". 

He further said - "India has extradition arrangements with many nations. In the past, there are numerous cases of successful extradition to India. The fairness of the Indian justice system has never been in question". 

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad recently sparked off a row when he said: "Zakir in general feels that he is not going to get a fair trial in India".

The controversial televangelist is avoiding coming to India since 2016 amid accusations of spreading extremism.Naik is also accused of radicalising a group of teenagers who carried out a terror attack in Bangladesh in 2016.

The preacher, who founded the Islamic Research Foundation and runs a satellite television channel PeaceTV ? both banned in India ? is being sought by authorities and agencies in India for questioning on charges of money-laundering and spreading extremism.

Naik is facing a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after his sermons have been attributed as a reason by Bangladesh for an attack in Dhaka in 2016 which claimed 22 lives.(UNI)