POLICE will study India’s provisional arrest request first before detaining controversial preacher Dr Zakir Naik, said Deputy Inspector-General Noor Rashid Ibrahim.

Rashid said they have yet to receive the request from India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA).

“So far, I haven’t received any application yet, it has to go through the procedures.

“I would have to look at the reason first. So if there is a request, it has to go through the due process and then we have to look at the reason for the request,” he told The Malaysian Insight today.

The Times of India had reported that the NIA would issue a request to Malaysian authorities for the provisional arrest of Zakir.

“On receipt of the provisional request for arrest, Malaysia, as per terms of its extradition agreement with India, will be obligated to confirm Naik’s location within its jurisdiction and arrest him pending presentation of a formal extradition request by India,” the report stated.

Citing NIA sources, the report also said Malaysia is required to arrest Zakir once it receives the provisional arrest request.

“Once the arrest is made, a formal request for his extradition must be moved by India within the next 60 days,” it said.

It was also stated that the NIA would file a new request to Interpol tomorrow for a red corner notice (RCN) against the preacher.

Interpol had previously rejected India’s request for RCN on Zakir, which was filed in May, on the grounds that the Indian police had not file any formal charges against him.

The NIA only filed a charge sheet against Zakir in October for allegedly inciting youths to carry out terror activities and delivering hate speeches.

Zakir is wanted by the Indian authorities for alleged terrorism and money laundering. His Islamic Research Foundation has been outlawed in India.

He fled India in July last year after terrorists in Bangladesh claimed they were inspired by his speeches and Zakir’s Indian passport was revoked in July this year.

The 52-year-old medical doctor who said his speeches only promoted peace had claimed that the Indian authorities only targeted him because he was Muslim.

He was banned from the UK in 2010 and has citizenship in Saudi Arabia. He was also granted permanent residency in Malaysia five years ago.

On November 8, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Zakir will be deported to India if the Indian government requested for his extradition. – December 25, 2017.