Reveal big names demand activists

Nampally: Following the arrest of a former Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of Wakf Board, two more former CEOs who served in the Board following bifurcation are in the list of accused in the ‘fake NOC case,’ which has already embroiled the officialdom of the body.Even as the big names who are or were attached to Board for a while are slowly cropping up in the inquiry of the fake NOC case, where four acres of land belonging to Wakf in Manikonda Jagir were cleared without any objection, there are allegations that only officials are being targeted and that the board is shielding some members of existing board.

Following Wakf Board meeting on Tuesday which was attended by almost all the important board members except Asaduddin Owaisi, the Chairman while addressing to media also named two of the former CEOs who were predecessors of the current CEO, Shahnawaz Qasim. The turn of events started in December, following lodging of case by Shahnawaz at the Abids police station and a letter was sent to Collector, Ranga Reddy District, about the development.

Following the arrest of law officer Sultan Mohiuddin a couple of days back, the entire focus of the media has shifted to the unfolding of the scam which is believed to be worth several crores of rupees. Ever since the issue came to light, already two regular employees (Wakf Inspectors) and two outsourced employees have been subjected to regular interrogation at the Abids police station. Earlier this month, Syed Imtiaz, the prime suspect in the case surrendered, and the needle of suspicion turned towards higher officials.

Meanwhile, Wakf activists led by Osman Bin Mohammed Al-Hajri, the president of Deccan Wakf Properties Protection Society, on Tuesday demanded a free and fair inquiry into the entire episode. He reminded that throughout the recent history, the Wakf Board was entangled in cases of fake NOCs, because of which hundreds of crores worth property has already lost. “Why only names of officials are cropping up, why not the names of actual land sharks who are enjoying the properties ?” he questioned.

At a press conference attended by former MP, Aziz Pasha and other activists, Osman asked why despite involvement of one of the Board members his name was not being revealed and only junior employees were being targeted. “Home Minister should come forward to monitor the inquiry into this, as innocents should not become scapegoats. One official who drew accolades from Mahmood Ali in his previous term as Deputy CM for protecting Wakf properties is now facing charges and has been suspended. He should look into how an official who protected lands is being named an accused,” he demanded..

Senior advocate and activist, sman Shaheed also demanded transparency in inquiry as only officials were being named as the accused. “Anyone who is involved should be revealed and punished. Historically, land sharks did not even leave graves and made plotting,” he noted.