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Zakir Naik plea in Supreme Court: How can a fugitive seek clubbing of FIRs, asks Centre
The Hindu
Supreme Court questions Zakir Naik's plea seeking clubbing of FIRs, NIA probe for alleged terror activities.
The Centre on Wednesday (October 16, 2024) questioned before the Supreme Court the maintainability of a plea filed by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik seeking clubbing of FIRs filed in different states over his purported statements during the Ganapati festival in 2012.
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Naik, who is currently abroad, is also being probed by the National Investigation Agency for alleged terror activities.
Appearing before a bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Augustine George Masih, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta asked how a person who was declared a fugitive, file a plea under Article 32 of the Constitution.
"I was told by his advocate that they are withdrawing the matter. Our counter was ready," said Mehta.
The lawyer representing Naik said he hadn't received any such instruction to withdraw the matter and the plea sought clubbing of about 43 cases registered across states.
The counsel further said there were six FIRs pending against his client and he would move the High Court for quashing of the same.