The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a major crackdown on a ₹100 crore Waqf property scam in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. In a series of coordinated raids across 10 locations, the ED targeted individuals accused of illegally collecting rents from Waqf properties and misappropriating funds intended for community welfare.
Among those arrested in connection with the scam are Salim Khan Pathan, Mohammad Yasar Sheikh, Mahmoodkhan Pathan, Faiz Mohammad Chobdar, and Shahid Ahmed Sheikh. These individuals are accused of posing as trustees of two Waqf properties — the Kaanch Ni Masjid Trust and Shah Bada Kasam Trust. The accused have been charged with constructing unauthorized shops and residential buildings on Waqf land, illegally collecting rent from tenants, and submitting false affidavits to the Waqf Board to cover up their activities.
A plot of land near Kaanch Ni Masjid, initially designated for an Urdu school, was allegedly razed and converted into commercial properties, significantly deviating from its intended purpose. The ED suspects that the accused orchestrated a fraudulent scheme in collaboration with certain officials from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and the Waqf Board, allowing them to pocket substantial sums from the rental income.
The Enforcement Directorate’s investigation is part of its broader efforts to tackle financial crimes and misappropriation involving religious and charitable institutions. The raids in Ahmedabad have brought to light the scale of the scam, and officials are continuing their probe to uncover more details about the financial irregularities. The ED has vowed to take strict action against all those involved in the fraudulent activities.
The investigation is still ongoing, and more arrests could follow as the ED works to dismantle the network behind this extensive fraud. The agency has also issued notices to several municipal officials suspected of complicity in the illegal activities.
This operation is one of the largest crackdowns on Waqf property-related fraud in recent years, shedding light on the scale of exploitation involving religious properties. The ED has assured that it will continue to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice.
