According to the report, India’s external (foreign) affairs ministry submitted the relevant documentation to Malaysian authorities, with its National Investigation Agency (NIA) having completed the necessary legal due process to demand his extradition.
Authorities in India have accused the 52-year-old of funding terrorism. Naik was charged with heading an “unlawful association” and inciting youths to commit acts of terror and join global militant groups, such as the Islamic State (IS).
The NIA said Naik had also “deliberately insulted” the religious beliefs of Hindus, Christians and Islamic sects like Shia, Sufi and Barelvi, and that his speeches had influenced recruits to the IS cause.
Naik’s Mumbai-based NGO, Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), was banned by the Indian government in 2016.
The report added that a court in Kuala Lumpur is likely to hear India’s request.
However, no timeline was given as to when the order was submitted to Malaysia nor when the court will hear the request.
On Nov 8 last year, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Putrajaya was prepared to deport Naik if there was a request from the Indian government.
“If the Indian government makes a request to extradite him based on Mutual Legal Assistance, we will return him,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.
It was also reported last November that Naik had appointed a lawyer in Malaysia to help fight any extradition order from India over allegations of money laundering and terrorism.
The lawyer, who was named as Shaharudin Ali, was reported to have said that he had informed Inspector-General of Police Mohamed Fuzi Harun and Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali to refer to him in the event such a request is made.
India is expected to present evidence in the form of CDs and DVDs to show it has a case against Naik for spreading hatred and that he was using his NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and company Harmony Media Pvt Ltd for anti-national activities.
Naik fled India on July 1, 2016 after terrorists in neighbouring Bangladesh claimed they were inspired by his speeches.
He was reported to have taken refuge in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, shuttling between the two countries since he left India.
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