The state government would not allow misuse of wakf lands, Maharashtra minister Naseem Khan today stated in the Legislative Assembly, after the opposition sought a CBI probe into dubious wakf land transactions.
Questions have been raised in the past about transfers of waqf lands in the state including the transaction involving the plot where industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence stands.
Khan, Wakf Minister, said reconstruction of the file pertaining to panel appointed by the state government to probe wakf land deals was complete, and the government had initiated action on it. The original file was gutted in the fire that damaged three stories of Mantralaya last year.
Khan was replying to a calling attention notice.
The government constituted Wakf Commission of Inquiry, headed by retired district judge A Shaikh, in October 2007 after there was uproar in the state legislature over alleged irregularities involving 92,000 acres of wakf lands across the state.
During the discussion in the House today, NCP's Nawab Malik recalled that Central Vigilance Commission had suggested to the Prime Minister's Office that a CBI probe be conducted in the matter pertaining to acquisition of land in south Mumbai by Mukesh Ambani-owned Antilia Commercial Private Limited.
The company got the land from Currimbhoy Ebrahim Khoja Orphanage, a charitable trust. After acquisition of the 4,532 sq metre plot, Ambani built a 27-storey skyscraper there.
"The Prime Minister then sent a letter to Chief Minister saying that the matter be handed over to CBI," Malik noted.
BJP MLA Devendra Fadanvis said the politicians and the rich had usurped wakf lands "in the name of the Allah". The government should hand over the matters pertaining to misuse of wakf lands to CBI, he said.
