Wakf property sold illegally? Yes, claims legal eagle

As per the letter, the property in question is said to be a 10 acre land in Varthur village pertaining to Jamia Masjid in Bengaluru Urban. ( NT is in possession of the relevant documents) 

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: Despite their promises of protecting endowed properties, custodians of sprawling wakf estates in the state have allegedly been involved in various irregularities without the fear of being caught.

Advocate and legal consultant of the Board, MH Haneef, in his letter to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Karnataka State Board of Auqaf, has alleged that he was influenced by the Chairman of the state Wakf Board, NK Muhammad Shafi Saadi, along with the Law Committee Chairman to be a mute spectator while a wakf property was being sold off illegally for Rs 19 crore to a private businessman.

As per the letter, the property in question is said to be a 10 acre land in Varthur village pertaining to Jamia Masjid in Bengaluru Urban. It is worth noting that the property has been sold despite the High Court having already issued a stay on the matter, Haneef claimed in his letter. An activist and former Board member explained that around 20 acres of land was under the Jamia Masjid in Varthur.

"A resident had moved to courts claiming 10 acres of land out of it. In 2022, the court had ruled out the property in the name of the resident. Immediately, the members from the mosque approached the High Court and obtained a stay order on the matter," an activist told News Trail.

"It is disgusting to me that the present chairman has tried to influence me through a world familiar Islamic scholar, keeping a person in the dark by not revealing the true facts that the property belongs to wakf," Haneef said in his letter while also stating to have denied helping the purchaser in the said matter. Further he alleged that the Wakf officials had been insisting that he post the captioned Writ petition before the court and not file any further application and also argue before the court.

"It is hereby notified, the personnel interest of the Chairman of the Board and the Law Committee Chairman of the Sub-Committee constituted under section 18 of the Wakf Act, 1995 (as amended, 2013) cannot override the exercise of power conferred under section 23 (3) of the Wakf Act, 1995 (as amended, 2013), the administrative power of the Chief Executive Officer," he told the Auqaf CEO in his letter.

Through the letter he requested the CEO to clarify his fault while prosecuting the captioned Writ petition. Based on this letter, activists have demanded an explanation of the matter from Shafi Saadi. When contacted, senior Wakf Board officials refused to comment.