Waqf property ‘scam’: ED raids nine places in Ahmedabad, funds worth Rs 2 crore frozen

The ED had initiated its investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Crime Branch Police Station, Gaekwad Haveli, in Ahmedabad city against accused Salim Khan Jummakhan Pathan and others. The accused had been fraudulently claiming to be trustees of two Waqf Board-registered trusts viz “Kanch Ki Masjid Trust” and “Shah Bada Kasam Trust”.

The accused had allegedly entered into fraudulent lease agreements, extorted rents from tenants, and submitted false affidavits to the Waqf Board, said sources.

They also built shops on the Trust’s land and collected rent, while “committing fraud and conspiracy against Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and Waqf Board for personal gain”, said the ED in a statement.

They are further alleged to have “illegally built around 150 to 200 houses, 25 to 30 shops and have been illegally collecting rent from the tenants, despite not being appointed trustees by the Waqf Board,” said the statement.

The rents were collected by the accused persons every month but not deposited into the trust’s account, said the ED. “They allegedly siphoned off the trusts’ money and misused the said land, which was originally meant for community welfare,” ED said.

“During the course of search operations, bank funds to the tune of Rs 2 crore were frozen, cash worth Rs 30 lakh was seized and Rs 7 lakh worth crypto currency was freezed, which are either owned/controlled by the accused and their affiliates having parked suspected ‘proceeds of crime’” said the ED.

Further, multiple other incriminating documents and digital devices were also seized during the raids, said the ED. Further investigation into the matter is under progress, said the officials.