INDIA has asked Interpol to issue a red corner notice (RCN) to arrest Zakir Naik on terror and money laundering, saying the controversial Islamic preacher is hiding in several countries, including Malaysia where he is a permanent resident.

The Interpol RCN requested yesterday would mean Zakir will be declared an international fugitive and could be arrested by any agency around the world.

Malaysian police have previously said it will not react over the RCN until it is issued.

“We don’t jump the gun, we wait until it happens,” Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said last month.

India had previously sought Zakir’s arrest on allegations that he spread communal hatred and incited others through his speeches to commit terrorism. But he said that he would be tortured if he returned to his home country.

In the latest RCN, India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) accused Zakir of spreading hatred with provocative speeches, funding terrorists and money laundering over the years.

He is said to be hiding either in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or Saudi Arabia and keeps on moving between Malaysia and Indonesia, the republic’s Times of India daily quoted intelligence agencies.

Sources told the daily that the Interpol was approached against Zakir after a 10-month long investigation and his group – the Islamic Research Foundation – and Peace TV, which were banned by the Indian government.

During the probe, NIA found 37 properties owned by Zakir and companies run by him, which were estimated to worth millions of ringgit. – May 12, 2017.