The National Investigation Agency early yesterday raided multiple locations connected to  preacher and televangelist Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation, official sources said.
The operation started around 5am a day after the NIA lodged a case against Naik and his IRF under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Naik and the IRF were under the scanner of Indian security agencies for the past four months for alleged misdeeds, spreading or promoting communal disharmony, feelings of enmity between communities and inspiring or supporting terror acts.
Teams of NIA sleuths, accompanied by Mumbai police started the raids at eight-to-ten locations across the city owned or connected with the IRF, including its headquarters in the congested Dongri area of south Mumbai.
The NIA that took over the case from the Mumbai police in mid-October was continuing with the raids and searches at noon yesterday but details were not available.
Naik is currently out of the country. He has not been in India in the past few months and did not attend even the funeral of his father Abdul K Naik, who died on October 30 here.
The IRF came under the scanner of various security agencies after one of the terrorists involved in the Dhaka cafe attack had allegedly posted on social media that they had been inspired by Naik’s speeches. 
Some of the youths from Mumbai suburbs, who had left their home to join Islamic State earlier this year, were also allegedly inspired by the preacher.