Today, the Supreme Court granted permission to Zakir Naik to withdraw his request to consolidate several hate speech cases filed against him.

A bench consisting of Justices Abhay Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, and Augustine George Masih permitted the withdrawal after Naik expressed his intention to approach the respective High Courts to seek the quashing of the cases against him.

The Maharashtra government previously raised concerns about how the fugitive preacher was allowed to approach the Supreme Court, given his escape from India. Consequently, the bench allowed the state to submit a counter-affidavit to contest the maintainability of Naik's plea.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have been investigating Naik for several years, as he faces multiple charges for inciting hatred between religious groups under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code. He is also charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).

In 2017, a Special NIA court issued a non-bailable warrant for Naik's arrest after he failed to appear in court. He is believed to be residing in Malaysia and has been declared a fugitive.

In 2022, a UAPA tribunal upheld the Centre's decision to classify Naik's organization, the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), as an “unlawful association” under the UAPA. Additionally, the Delhi High Court denied a petition to overturn the ban imposed on the IRF in May 2017.