Wakf council demands CBI probe into loans remitted to state trusts

The central Wakf council has demanded a CBI investigation into loans remitted to trusts in Maharashtra between 2013 and 2015. Council members Mohammad Hamid and advocate Ejaz Naqvi, who were in the city on Saturday, alleged that one of the trusts had misappropriated funds released for a non-existent dental college while the other had requested waiving off of the loan amount which prompted them to inquire into the issue. The members said that the trusts had misused funds and hence, it had asked the centre and state to initiate CBI inquiries into the same.

Mr Hamid said that many organisations from all over the country availed loans from the central Wakf council’s Wakf fund and two organisations from Maharashtra i.e. Mehmuda Shiksha Ani Gramin Vikas Bahuuddeshiya Sanstha from Nagpur and Jamia Islamiya Ishatul Uloom Akkalkuwa from Nandurbar had also availed loans of Rs 1 crore and Rs 1.1 crore, respectively, between 2013 and 2015.

“According to council records, the beneficiary trust at Nagpur which is headed by the wife of former state minorities minister, Anees Ahmad, had taken a loan to construct a dental college,” said Mr Hamid.

“But there is no state sanction for a dental college nor does the trust have any dental college in or around Nagpur. However, details on the council website show that construction has been completed. This is misleading information and hence, we have asked for an investigation,” Mr Hamid further said.

While elaborating on the loan taken by current state Wakf board member, Maulana Bastanvi’s trust, advocate Naqvi claimed that after paying some installments, the trust requested a waiver of the remaining amount.

“The trust is not registered with the state Wakf board but managed to secure Wakf funds which indicates that they resorted to fraudulent ways.

The council, apart from asking for a CBI inquiry, has also asked the state to register a FIR against Mr Bastanvi,” said Mr Naqvi.

He added that the council wanted Mr Bastanvi to resign from the state Wakf board in light of the accusations. Meanwhile, Mr Bastanvi did not respond to repeated calls and messages.