Zakir vs Arnab, Round 2: Televangelist sends Rs 500 crore notice

Following widespread outrage against him, Islamic Research Foundation founder Zakir Naik has slapped a Rs 500 crore defamation case on Times Now editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami for running a “hate campaign” and “media trial” against the preacher.

The notice, sent by Naik’s lawyer Mubin Solkar, says Times Now‘s Newshour Debate — anchored by Goswami — has “hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community which reveres Dr. Naik and holds him in high esteem.” Apart from Goswami, the notice also names the channel’s Mumbai bureau chief Megha Prasad and chief executive officer Avinash Kaul, Times Global Broadcasting, and its CEO, Sunil Lulla.

In the wake of terror attacks in Bangladesh, Times Now aired debates on July 2 that targeted Naik when it was found that one of the terrorists had quoted him in a Facebook post. Later, the channel interviewed the preacher twice but aired only one of the versions.