In a major setback to controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, a non-bailable arrest warrant has been issued against him on Thursday in a money laundering case.

A special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court on Thursday issued an open dated non-bailable arrest warrant against Zakir Naik in money laundering case in Mumbai.

The money laundering case was registered against him by Enforcement Directorate.

The central agency said it had sent summons four times since January to Naik, who is at present in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but he didn't appear before it.

The ED registered a criminal case for money laundering against Naik and others last December after taking cognisance of a complaint registered against him by the National Investigation Agency under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Hiten Venegaonkar, ED's lawyer, said Naik laid down conditions for appearance and tried to dictate terms to the agency. He demanded time, and once asked the agency to record his statement through a video link, the lawyer claimed.

Under section 15 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), a person against whom summons is issued has to appear before the agency in person to record his or her statement, Venegaonkar said.