Prayagraj, Jul 17 2024 : The government has seized multiple properties worth Rs 50 crore belonging to slain gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, who was killed in police custody in April last year. The properties were allegedly acquired with money from criminal activities.
District Government Advocate (Criminal) Gulab Chandra Agrahari disclosed that Atiq had purchased 2.377 hectares of land in the name of a mason, Hoobalal, using illicit earnings. Atiq had reportedly indicated that he would transfer the land to his own name if necessary.
The property was attached by the Police Commissioner Court under Section 14 (1) of the Gangsters Act, allowing three months for a response. However, no evidence was provided to establish legitimate ownership.
Following this, the Police Commissioner Court referred the case to the Gangster Court in Prayagraj. On Tuesday, Judge Vinod Kumar Chaurasia upheld the Police Commissioner’s action as “fair and just,” transferring the property to the government.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Atiq had coerced Hoobalal into registering the land in his name in 2015. The police had attached this land in November 2023.
Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, who were implicated in over 100 criminal cases, including the Umesh Pal murder case, were shot dead in police custody on April 15 of the previous year.
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