Shia cleric Maulan Kalbe Jawwad has demanded for the probe by the CBI into the alleged irregularities in the management of the waqf properties in lucknow. The state government earlier this week had referred the inquiry into the irregularities in three dozen waqf properties to the economic offence wing (EOW) of the state police.
Maulana said the enquiry by the EOW will serve no purpose and will meet the same fate as happened with the earlier inquiry conduct by the crime branch of the CID into the irregularities in the waqf properties. He said on the basis of the CID enquiry report, FIRs were lodged against the accused person and warrants of arrest against them were also issued but no action could be taken against them.
Maulana said the scam in the waqf properties runs into One thousand croere and the state agency is not competent enough to conduct a fair inquiry into the mega scam. He said if the state government is committed for a fair inquiry and rid the waqf properties of corruption and mismanagement then it should recommend a probe by the CBI which should look into the all transaction in last 15 years by the waqf properties in question.
The Shia cleric who is also the Imam-e-Juma of lucknow is having a running feud with the Wasim Rizvi, the chairman of the UP Shia Waqf board. The board had recommended the probe by the EOW into the alleged irregularities in Shia waqf properties under the control of Maulana Jawwad. Accepting the recommendations the minority affairs minister Azam Khan had ordered probe by the EOW.
Wasim Rizvi, the present chairman of the Shia waqf board was once a close confident of Maulana Jawwad. Rizvi was first elected as chairman of the Shia waqf board during the previous Mayawati regime. later wasim fell out with maulana Jawwad and the cleric launched a campaign for the removal of the chairman of the board. Rizvi was not only removed by the then chief minister Mayawati had also ordered a probe by the CBI. The CID report had indicted Wasim Rizvi and FIR was also lodged against him.
With the change of regime in March 2012, Wasim Rizvi developed close proximity with the minority affairs minister Azam Khan. Maulana Jawwad continued to insist for action against Wasim Rizvi for the alleged irregularities committed by him. Rizvi on the other hand accused Maulana Jawwad of selling out the waqf properties worth several hundred crore in lucknow. In the meantime Wasim Rizvi was again elected as the chairman of the Shia waqf board last year. The election was held under the directions of the Supreme Court. Maulana is adamant on his demand for the removal of Wasim Rizvi and is locked in a bitter battle with the minority affairs minister Azam Khan.