AnyTV News Fares collected from shops and houses built on Waqf land for 17 years, 5 arrested

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In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, the police have arrested five people for charging fare for 17 years on the properties of two trusts registered under the Waqf Board. The matter came to light as per the FIR lodged at Gaikwad Haveli police station. During the judicial action on the accused, it was found that they had built about 100 houses and shops on the land of Kanchani Masjid Trust and Shah Bada Kasam Trust and had charged their fare.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bharat Rathore, the accused misused the properties of the trusts registered under the Waqf Board, taking them personal advantage. He said, “The accused illegally constructed in an area of more than 5,000 square meters and built about 100 properties (mainly houses and shops) between 2008 and 2025. They charged rent from these assets every month.”

Identification of arrested accused

Those arrested have been identified as Salim Khan Pathan, Mohammad Yasar Sheikh, Mahmood Khan Pathan, Faiz Mohammad Chobdar and Shahid Ahmed Sheikh. Of these, Salim Khan Pathan is an old criminal, against whom there have been allegations in the Arms Act and other cases before.

Not accused of trust members

Mohammad Rafiq Ansari has filed a complaint by one of the tenants of houses and shops built on the properties of the concerned trust. He said that no accused is a member of these trusts and he used rent money for his personal benefit. In addition, the accused also claimed their ownership on the money deposited in the donation box of Shah Bada Kashi Trust.

One of the shops built by the accused was used by Salim Khan for his office, while the rest were rented. Ansari said that the fare charged by the accused was neither deposited in the trust’s account nor was it handed over to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), which makes it clear that they cheated the AMC and Waqf Board. (input language)