Hawala operator linked to Zakir Naik arrested

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, March 22

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested jeweller Abdul Kadir Najmudin Sathak here for transferring funds via the hawala route on behalf of controversial preacher Zakir Naik.

According to police sources here, Sathak was also associated with Global Broadcasting Corporation which owned Naik’s Peace TV. Sathak helped mobilize funds for Peace TV from various Middle Eastern countries, according to sources.

Officials said Sathak was suspected of sending at least Rs 50 crores to Naik in Mumbai from various financiers abroad. The funds were later deployed for purchase of real estate in different parts of India, according to officials here.

Sathak would be produced before the special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), officials here said.