Zakir Naik files ₹500-crore case against Times Now, Arnab Goswami

The notice alleges that Times Now made several reckless and callous remarks Naik, who runs Peace TV, is under the scanner of the investigating agencies in India and Bangladesh

Controversial Islamic preacher, Zakir Naik, who was accused of inspiring Muslim youth to join the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group, has filed a ₹500 crore defamation case against Times Now anchor Arnab Goswami and other team members of the channel.

According to an India Today report, in his defamation notice, Naik has also sought an unconditional apology from Goswami and Times Now and asked the channel to withdraw statements made against him.

The report said that the notice, dated July 16, issued by Naik's advocate Mubin Solkar, states that  Goswami "tarnished and damaged" Zakir Naik reputation by making "false and defamatory statements" on his show "The Newshour Debate."

Naik, who runs Peace TV, is under the scanner of the investigating agencies in India and Bangladesh after two men behind the Dhaka attacks were believed to be influenced by him.

The notice alleges that Times Now made several reckless and callous remarks without verifying facts and without any evidence in support of such accusations. It accuses the channel of making the defamatory and damaging remarks with deliberate and malicious intention against Naik, which had severely harmed his "impeccable reputation".

Naik, in the notice, has referred to The Daily Star newspaper in Bangladesh, and claimed that it has denied having stated that he had inspired any terrorist to kill innocent people.

The controversial preacher has further claimed that the news channel has not just defamed and maligned him but have also hurt his religious sentiments and those of the Muslim community which "holds him in high esteem".

Read the legal notice here.