An explosive investigation into the management of Waqf properties across India has unearthed a ticking time bomb of corruption, encroachment, and administrative failure that spans decades, threatens communal harmony, and mocks the very purpose of Waqf: public good and religious charity.
From Uttar Pradesh to Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan to Bihar, the reality on the ground is shocking—properties worth thousands of crores lie undocumented, illegally grabbed, misused, or simply vanished from official records. The Ministry of Minority Affairs’ decision to conduct a nation-wide survey, supported by top institutions like AMU, IIT Kanpur, and Jamia Millia Islamia, has pulled the lid off one of the country’s biggest land scams hiding in plain sight.
Uttar Pradesh: Thousands of crores in disarray
In Aonla’s Pakka Katra of Bareilly, Waqf number 610444 lists a house—but on ground, there are 21 shops, two houses, and a mosque. In Hathras’ Sikandrarao, Waqf land is shockingly registered as private property in tehsil records.
The Ministry of Minority Welfare had initiated a large-scale national survey using AMU’s Remote Sensing department, involving over 85 surveyors and academic partners from IIT Kanpur and Jamia Millia Islamia. In UP alone, 87,735 properties across 27 districts—including Lucknow, Kanpur Dehat, Varanasi, and Rampur—were surveyed.
However, the UP Waqf Board (Sunni/Shia) has not verified the report uploaded on the VAMSI portal, despite photographic evidence and documentation. The survey was halted after protests and threats. In Rampur, surveyors were physically stopped, threatened by a Maulana, and held up for hours. Similar hostility was faced in Mathura, where the team was held hostage until the district magistrate intervened. The unverified report reveals widespread fraud—shops and houses erected on land registered as mosques, dargahs, and graveyards.
Chhattisgarh: Rs 5,000 crore worth property, Rs 5 lakh income
In Chhattisgarh, the estimated value of Waqf land is a jaw-dropping Rs 5,000 crore. In Raipur alone, Waqf property is valued at Rs 1,380 crore. Yet, the annual income is shockingly under Rs 5 lakh.
According to State Waqf Board Chairman Salimraj, nearly 90 per cent of this land is illegally occupied by influential individuals. On Raipur’s GE Road, just steps from the Economic Offences Wing office, a mosque stands illegally occupied. Showrooms and shops have mushroomed on Waqf land along Malviya Road after fraudulent registrations. As many as 24 fake registration cases are under trial in Raipur, with 10 registries already declared void.
Rajasthan: Bhajanlal Government to probe congress-era irregularities
In Rajasthan, the new BJP-led Bhajanlal Sharma government has vowed to investigate Waqf Board irregularities committed during the previous Congress regime. The Home, Revenue, and Minority Affairs departments confirmed mismanagement of Waqf funds and property.
Minister Sumit Godara stated that out of 19,044 properties registered, 706 are encroached upon. Of these, 17,415 were gazetted while 1,629 were later added. The scale of misuse is under intense scrutiny.
Bihar: Property worth billions, earnings in lakhs
In Bihar, the Sunni and Shia Waqf Boards together own property worth several billion rupees. However, their combined annual earnings remain only in lakhs—a large portion of which is spent on legal battles.
Shia Waqf Board Chairman Afzal Abbas said that of their 327 properties, 138 cases are pending in tribunal and 38 in the Patna High Court. Sunni Waqf Board Chairman Irshadullah confirmed 2,900 properties, mostly dargahs, graveyards, and shops, with 350 cases pending across courts. Thousands of properties lie encroached or disputed, stripping the community of resources meant for schools, hostels, and aid for the poor.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which has now received the President’s assent, will now be known as the UMEED (Utilisation and Management of Evacuee and Endowment Properties for Empowerment and Development) Act aims to streamline the administration of Waqf properties and curb widespread irregularities that have plagued the system for decades.
The newly passed legislation introduces mechanisms to digitise and centralise records of Waqf assets, making it mandatory for Waqf Boards across the country to maintain updated digital inventories. The Bill also empowers regulatory authorities to conduct regular audits, prevent illegal encroachments, and take strict action against mismanagement.
One of the core objectives of the Bill is to repurpose underutilised Waqf properties for the welfare of the community — including setting up educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and skill development centres. The legislation ensures that endowment assets are no longer left idle or misused by vested interests.
