In a major development that could trigger a political and legal storm, revelations have surfaced that the family and close aides of slain mafia don Atiq Ahmed have allegedly encroached upon Waqf properties worth Rs 71 crore in Uttar Pradesh. These disclosures come shortly after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which was passed by both Houses of Parliament earlier this week, thereby turning it into law.
The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board and Prayagraj Divisional Commissioner had launched an inquiry into the alleged misuse and illegal occupation of several Waqf properties in Prayagraj. The investigation unearthed that multiple commercial and residential assets – including shops, houses, and multi-storey buildings – were illegally taken over by Atiq Ahmed’s kin and associates. The properties were under the management of Waqf Board-appointed mutawalli (caretaker) Syed Mohammad Ashiyam, who allegedly facilitated the illegal encroachment in exchange for bribes. He has since been removed from his position, and a new caretaker has been appointed by the Board.
Following the investigation, the Prayagraj police registered an FIR on November 18, 2023, against seven members of Atiq Ahmed’s family. Bulldozers were deployed on a few encroached properties as part of the Yogi Adityanath government’s ongoing crackdown on illegal assets amassed by criminals. The state administration, known for its “bulldozer justice,” has vowed to continue action against all illegal occupations, including Waqf land misuse.
Some properties are still under legal scrutiny, and officials say further action is imminent. “Wherever illegal encroachments are proven, strict action will be taken as per law,” a senior district official stated.
The controversy surrounding Atiq Ahmed’s family comes at a sensitive time when the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, has just been given legal backing. The new amendment seeks to streamline the functioning of Waqf Boards, enhance transparency, and ensure that Waqf properties are not misused or encroached upon.
The amended law includes provisions for stricter audits, accountability mechanisms, and digital records of Waqf properties across India. It also introduces harsher penalties for encroachment and misuse of Waqf assets. However, the bill has not gone uncontested.
Yogi Government’s Broader Campaign Against Mafia Assets
The revelation of Atiq Ahmed’s family’s grip over Waqf properties aligns with the Uttar Pradesh government’s larger anti-mafia campaign. Since 2022, the state has seized or demolished illegal properties worth hundreds of crores linked to mafias and their networks, including those connected to Atiq Ahmed and Mukhtar Ansari.
Atiq Ahmed, a five-time MLA from Allahabad West and an accused in more than 100 criminal cases, was shot dead along with his brother Ashraf in police custody in April 2023.
The development suggested that despite Ahmed’s death, his family’s hold on illegal assets – including religious trust lands – has not been completely dismantled.
The case has triggered a wider debate on how Waqf properties – meant for the welfare of the Muslim community are being misused by corrupt officials and powerful families. Waqf lands, which span over 6 lakh acres across India, are often unmonitored, making them vulnerable to illegal encroachment, misuse, and fraudulent transfers.
The new Waqf (Amendment) Act aims to address these very concerns by digitizing records, standardizing procedures, and introducing third-party audits. However, critics fear that increased central oversight may dilute community control over religious endowments.
For now, the Yogi Adityanath government appears determined to send a strong message: no individual or group, however influential, will be allowed to misuse public or religious trust property for private gain.
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