According to the Hindustan Times, this follows the NIA’s request on July 28 to a special court in Mumbai for permission to seize Naik’s five properties.
These are a flat in Jasmine Apartments in Mazagaon, two flats in Maria Heights in Mazagaon, a share in property at Crystal Apartments in Mazagaon, land at Pezari and a shop at Rukaiya Manzil in Dongri.
The NIA now has until the court hearing, scheduled for the first week of September, to submit the relevant documents.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) of India has also applied to a special court in Mumbai for permission to lawfully seize some of Naik’s properties in Malaysia.
Naik is wanted for questioning in India over money-laundering and terrorism-related crimes. He fled India in 2016, after a suspect in a terror attack on a Dhaka cafe in Bangladesh was reported to have been influenced by his speeches.
On April 20, the NIA obtained a non-bailable warrant against Naik, claiming that he had promoted enmity between religious groups in India and incited Muslim youths to commit unlawful activities and acts of terror.
In May, the agency wrote to Interpol, asking that a red notice be issued against Naik. This would mean that he would be officially declared an international fugitive and police in any country would be authorised to arrest him.
According to the Times of India, however, Naik has denied supporting Islamic jihad and has alleged he is being persecuted because he is a Muslim.
The report said he claimed that his speeches had only promoted peace and that he had never advocated terror or jihad. He added that he had been delivering speeches on Islam for the past 25 years across several countries and that he was respected and welcomed there.
Although local authorities have denied reports that Naik has been granted Malaysian citizenship, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi admitted in April that the controversial preacher had held permanent resident (PR) status for more than five years.