Hyderabad: The police have stated that the Secunderabad temple case accused, Salman Salim Thakur, was influenced by the videos of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik.
Salman was arrested for damaging the idol in the Sri Muthyalamma Temple, located at Kummarguda under the Market police station limits in Secunderabad.
Accused linked to similar incidents
It is also reported that the accused, a resident of Mumbai, came to Hyderabad in early October 2024 to attend a month-long personality development workshop. He was involved in similar incidents in Vasai-Virar in August this year and Mumbai in 2022.
Rijiju hits out at Zakir Naik over calls to reject Waqf Bill
On October 14, at around 4:30 am, Salman entered the sanctum sanctorum of the Sri Muthyalamma Temple in Kummarguda, Secunderabad, and desecrated the main idol. Locals soon arrived at the scene and apprehended him. Angered by the provocative act, some of the locals assaulted him.
Upon receiving the information, the local police arrived at the spot, moved the accused to a hospital, and took control of the situation.
Centre questions Zakir Naik’s plea in SC
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Centre questioned the maintainability of a plea filed by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik before the Supreme Court. Naik had sought the clubbing of FIRs filed in different states over his alleged statements during the Ganapati festival in 2012.
Appearing before a bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, and Augustine George Masih, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta questioned how a person declared a fugitive could file a plea under Article 32 of the Constitution.
Zakir Naik, who is currently abroad, is also being investigated by the National Investigation Agency for alleged terror activities.
