Delhi High Court has refused to grant any protection to Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation IRF trustees from coercive action by agencies probing its alleged terror links. A special tribunal had on 11th of May upheld the Centre's 17th November 2016 decision to ban the IRF for five years, saying there were sufficient reasons, including posing a threat to India's security, to declare it an unlawful association.<br/><br/>The court, however, kept the IRF's application for interim orders pending. The Centre, represented by Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, opposed maintainability of the IRF's plea challenging upholding of its ban under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA by a special tribunal. <br/><br/>The IRF opposed the Centre's stand and said its plea was maintainable in the high court. It said Naik's speeches, based on which the organisation was banned, were being made since 1990 and were not sponsored by the IRF.