The central government has opposed a plea filed by controversial Islamic preacher and fugitive Zakir Naik, seeking to consolidate various FIRs lodged in different states related to his hate speech dating back to 2012.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta questioned how a declared fugitive could file a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution. He also informed the court that Naik's advocate had indicated they were withdrawing the matter.

However, Naik's counsel countered that he had not received any instructions to withdraw the plea, which seeks to club approximately 43 cases registered across multiple states.

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, and Augustine George Masih directed Naik’s counsel to file an affidavit clarifying whether he intends to pursue the case or withdraw it.

Zakir Naik, who left India in 2016, is currently under investigation by the National Investigation Agency for alleged involvement in terror activities. He is accused of inciting hatred among various communities through his platform, Peace TV, and his extensive social media presence, which boasts over 20 million followers.