NEW DELHI – The Allahabad high court on Wednesday dismissed a petitionfiled by Islamic preacher Zakir Naik challenging the 2010 order of a localcourt in Jhansi, which summoned him on several charges, including wagingwar against the state, and the subsequent order of a non-bailable warrantagainst him.
The interim order earlier granted in his favour now stands vacated with thedismissal of the petition.
Justice Amar Singh Chauhan had reserved the judgement on March 28, 2018, onthe petition filed by Naik, president of Islamic Research Foundation.
A person called Mudassir Ullah Khan had filed a complaint on January 9,2008, before the chief judicial magistrate X in Jhansi alleging that Naikhad allegedly hurt the religious sentiments of a particular community in atelevision programme telecast on January 21, 2006.
Khan said that Naik had published and distributed a pamphlet to incitehatred and ill will among different communities.
The judicial magistrate summoned Naik on April 30, 2010, before the courtfor waging war against the state and other sections of Indian Penal Codeand issued a non-bailable warrant against him. A person can be punishedwith death or life imprisonment for waging a war against the government ofIndia or attempting to wage such war or abetting it.
Naik’s plea was that he is president of an organisation that clarifiesIslamic viewpoints and clears misconceptions about Islam and theallegations against him were baseless.