Uttar Pradesh, India: On March 23, Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police attached former BSP MLA and meat mafia Haji Yakub Qureshi’s properties worth Rs 9 crores as part of the UP Government’s action against meat mafias in the state. Furthermore, Haji Yakub Qureshi’s other unlawful properties worth about Rs 31 crores have been identified. It is pertinent to note that Haji Yakub Qureshi is already lodged in Sonbhadra jail under the Gangsters and the Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (Gangster Act).
Circle Officer (CO) Kithore Rupali Roy said, “Two plots of lands of Yaqub Qureshi which have been attached today are in the name of his wife Sanjeeda Begum. The properties were bought using the money earned through criminal activities,” PTI reported.
Furthermore, CO Roy said that the police had identified Haji Yakub Qureshi’s other illegal assets worth about Rs 31.77 crores and relevant action will be initiated against them. The police have identified 26 properties, including land and buildings, and 32 cars belonging to Haji Yakub Qureshi. “The properties have been identified. We have made an elaborate plan to confiscate the properties within the purview of the law. We have initiated the process this (Thursday) afternoon and the exercise will be intensified from tomorrow,” CO Roy said.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rohit Singh Sajwan said, “We have formed three police teams to carry out the exercise and Deputy SP Kithore Rupali Roy Chaudhary will lead the operation. Kharkhauda, Mundali and Kotwali police stations have formed three teams to execute the operation. Besides, we have completed all legal formalities beforehand.”
“As per an estimate, Qureshi owns cash and properties worth over Rs 100 crore spread across Meerut, Ghaziabad and Noida. We have launched the first phase, while the remaining properties are being identified and will be seized in the second phase, which is not far away,” SSP Sajwan added.
Haji Yakub Qureshi ran Al Fahim Meatex Private Limited and the meat factory was located in the village Allipur Jijmana Dhikauli under the Kharkhauda Police Station’s jurisdiction. Haji Yakub Qureshi’s meat factory was built on green verges, road-widening land and land designated for public use. It is pertinent to note that he was operating an illegal meat packaging and processing business in the factory. The police charged 18 people in the case including Haji Yakub Qureshi, his wife Sanjeeda and two sons Firoz and Imran, after recovering illegal meat from the factory worth about Rs 5 crores.
