Mumbai police deny refusing Zakir Naik permission for press conference

Mumbai: The Mumbai Police has denied reports that it refused permission to controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik to hold a press conference on Skype at Mumbai hotels.

Zakir Naik's spokesperson has claimed that hotels are cancelling venues for his press conference.

In a fresh statement, Naik's spokesperson said, "It's weird - and unfair - what's going on. Apparently, hotels in Mumbai have been told not to give out venue for Dr Zakir Naik's press conference. At least 4 hotels, after confirming availability, and some even after taking the booking, have cancelled. The latest one is the World Trade Centre, who after taking the booking yesterday, called today to cancel it. We had already sent out media invites with the WTC hall details yesterday."

Read: Owaisi's party supports Zakir Naik, says 'media trial should end'

The presser was scheduled to be held at 11:30 am at the World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade in Mumbai on July 14, and was to be addressed by other personalities as well. Hotels cancelling the event include Taj Hotel, ITC Grand Central, Saahil hotel, and World Trade Centre.

"A manager of one of these hotels told us in confidentiality that they'd been instructed by Mumbai police not to give out venue for Dr Naik's press conference," said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson raged that it was unfair to cancel a press conference, which was neither a public speech nor a public meeting.

Read: Muslim community divided on Zakir Naik: Telangana minorities commission

Earlier, Zakir Naik had alleged that he was being forced to undergo a ‘media trial’. ”Most of the clips shown on the television of myself are either out of context, half statements or doctored. So are my statements in the print media," he said.

After reports emerged that the Dhaka café attackers had been influenced by Zakir Naik, the Maharashtra government and the Centre had constituted probe teams to look into the matter.

Read: Zakir Naik flees to Africa, says 'no govt agency has contacted me'

Nine probe teams drawn from National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and other agencies are now investigating the activities of the controversial Islamic preacher.

In this regard, the NIA is likely to contact Naik, who is presently in Medina, Saudi Arabia. According to sources, the NIA, which has reportedly given some message or signal to Naik in this regard, has been waiting for his return, and then it will formally ask him to present his points.

NIA tried to contact him over his cell phone, which was switched off. Following which the agency officials tried to contact his aides.

The agency is trying to get more proof to make a stronger case against Naik, whose confidential meetings with individuals associated with terror organisations and their subsequent joining ISIS are rife.

Read: 'Preachers of hate are threat to society': Modi takes dig at Zakir Naik

Videos of a few close door meetings are also among evidences collected by the agency. The NIA is waiting for a formal request from Dhaka to take action against Naik.

Four teams of NIA officials have examined more than 500 CDs, finding most of the footages highly objectionable and a cause of security hazard and communal tension.

Besides, thousands of his emails were also scanned and many of them were found to be suspicious - mostly relating to funding, donations, sponsors and foreign tours.

The Bangladesh government has also banned Zakir Naik's Peace TV in the country.