Refuting allegations of corruption charge against him, former Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board (MPWB) chairman Gufran-e-Azam on Saturday said the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) did not have any right to book him.
Azam addressing mediapersons here on Saturday said, “The news published in section of media against me is baseless and there is no substance in it as the EOW does not have any right to register a case against me. This is a conspiracy to defame me and would file a defamation case against the EOW official who is part of this conspiracy.”
“Media reports based on EOW’s release are baseless. The EOW has no right to register case in Waqf Board matters. Waqf Board property disputes are subject to jurisdiction of the Waqf Tribunal only,” Azam claimed. Azam further said the issue in which a case was registered against him by the EOW was subjudice in the High Court, and he questioned as to how such a case was filed against him.
Elaborating his stand over the issue, the former parliamentarian said the said exchange of land in Kurwai was done following all norms and the valuation of both lands was done by the Collector. Moreover, the decision of land exchange was done in board meeting with two third majority. “In such a situation, how come only I could be accused of the said deal,” he added.
He said nine of the eleven members including him had signed the proposal passed for exchange of the said land while only two members were against him who knocked court doors. “I am neither a goon who threatens the board members to sign on gun point nor would I get frightened with these pressure tactics,” said Gufran, who is also a former State vice president of the State Congress.
However, unfazed by the former MPWB chairman’s allegations and jurisdiction challenge the EOW on Saturday seized all the original documents related with the case and is all set to produce them in the court. EOW Superintendent of Police (SP) Shashikant Shukla while talking to ‘The Pioneer’ said, “We have seized all the original documents concerned with the case and would submit them in court.”