Patna: (ABN) The Waqf Protection Council and the National Momineen Conference have demanded a high-level inquiry into the embezzlement that took place during the tenure of Arshad Ali Azad, Chairman of the Shia Waqf Board, and also demanded an investigation into his properties by the ED.

In a press conference today, Ali Imam Bharati, President of the Waqf Protection Council, and Humaun Ansari, National President of the National Momineen Conference, jointly stated that there are very serious cases against the current Chairman of the Shia Waqf Board, Arshad Ali Azad. They presented several documents and said that during Arshad Ali Azad's tenure, the waqf land of the Nauhatta graveyard was illegally leased out, despite strong opposition from local people and court approval.

A case of serious embezzlement, FIR No. 420/18, was registered at the Khwaja Qila police station. Similarly, in Waqf Estate No. 94 and 95, Sheikhpora, Bibi Zat-un-Nisa Begum and Am-un-Nisa Begum, about 600-650 acres of land were illegally handed over to a mutawalli, Tanveer, during Arshad Ali Azad's tenure. Tanveer, in turn, leased out the entire 600 acres of land to Ashok Kumar Singh, a resident of Arwal, for 30 years at a yearly rent of just Rs 100 per acre.

The lease agreement also gave Ashok Kumar Singh the right to mutate the waqf land in his name. These people have made serious allegations against Arshad Ali Azad, saying that this is a clear violation of the Waqf Act, as waqf property cannot be leased out or mutated. They presented documents related to the lease and mutation, and also mentioned Waqf Estate No. 27, Amiri Begum, where a mosque was demolished and a mall was built.

At Waqf Estate No. 19, Mir Naser Ali Sadar Gali, Patna City, a mosque was destroyed and a two-story building was constructed, leaving only a 10-foot space in the name of the mosque. At Waqf Estate No. 28, Amiri Begum, Takiya Toli, near the Gurudwara Hospital, a mosque and an imambara existed, but apartments were built on top of the imambara.

These people have demanded that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar order a high-level inquiry into Arshad Ali Azad's entire tenure, remove him from the post of Chairman immediately, and investigate his and his family's properties through the ED. They have also demanded that all illegal leases, mutations, and constructions be canceled and that strict legal action be taken if the allegations are found to be true.

National Momineen Conference President Humaun Ansari said that the Chief Minister should take immediate and strict action; otherwise, the Waqf Protection Council and the National Momineen Conference will intensify their movement through legal means, for which the government will be responsible.

The National Momineen Conference President also questioned the appointment of Arshad Ali Azad as Chairman, saying it is alarming to appoint a person involved in serious cases to the top post of the Waqf Board. He appealed to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to take immediate notice and ensure action.

Waqf Security Council General Secretary Raju Warishi alleged that about 600 acres of land of Waqf Estate No. 94 and 95, located in Sheikhpora, were illegally leased out between 2015 and 2020. According to him, on November 23, 2018, Patna City resident Tanveer was appointed as the mutawalli, and on November 27, 2018, the same mutawalli leased out 600 acres of land to Arwal resident Ashok Kumar for 30 years at a yearly rent of just Rs 100 per acre.

The lease agreement also allowed the land to be mutated in Ashok Kumar's name. Later, the government put a stay on the lease, but Arshad Ali Azad, who was involved in the alleged scam, was reappointed as Chairman. They demanded that he be removed from the post immediately and that the ED and CBI investigate the matter and take strict legal action.

In the joint press conference, it was also demanded that Arshad Ali Azad and his family members be investigated by the ED and CBI, and that the concerned official be removed from the post until the investigation is complete. The legal status of all disputed lease and mutation documents should be reviewed, and construction work on waqf properties should be stopped immediately.

The Waqf Protection Council and the National Momineen Conference clarified that their struggle is not against any individual but for the protection of waqf properties, upholding the law, and safeguarding the religious properties of the minority community. If the government does not intervene in time, the council will be forced to intensify its movement through democratic and constitutional means.