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Zakir Naik to address media tomorrow

Last updated on: July 14, 2016 23:17 IST

Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, facing multiple probes over alleged provocative speeches, will address the media through video calling service Skype on Friday, his aide said.

The press meet will take place in a small hall in Mazgaon area of South Mumbai, he said.

The 50-year-old Mumbai-based televangelist, who is currently abroad, was slated to interact with the media on Thursday but cancelled his press briefing, citing pressure from management of the venue where it was organised.

Earlier, Mohsin Khan, Naik's media coordinator, confirmed the development to Rediff.com.

"The owners withdrew the permission early morning 3 am without any proper reason or justification," Khan said.

Khan would not confirm if the owners buckled under pressure from the city police or political parties who are opposed to Dr Naik's entry into the city and are demanding his arrest on arrival.

"The management of the Mehfil hall in Agripada, around 11 PM last night, told our team present at the venue that they cannot allow the press conference to take place and that we should dismantle and pack up all the venue arrangements we had made. Given no choice, our teams dismantled everything and left by around midnight," Khan said in a statement issued in Mumbai.

The preacher's media interaction was first scheduled earlier this week at Trident Hotel in South Mumbai, but the venue was subsequently changed to World Trade Centre. Later, it was shifted to Mehfil hall.

The organisers of Naik's press briefing had on Thursday claimed Mumbai Police have instructed top hotels in the city not to provide space for his conference, a charge they later retracted.

There were media reports that Naik's "provocative" speeches had inspired some of the Dhaka attackers.

The sermons of Naik are under the scanner of the state and the Central agencies in India. The radical preacher, a medical doctor by professional training, has denied promoting terrorism in anyway.

His sermons are telecast on Peace TV, run by his Islamic Research Foundation, and he also organises public lectures. His speeches on Peace TV were said to be popular in Bangladesh, where the network has been banned post the terror attack.

Additional reportage: PTI