Gujarat Waqf Scam: Waqf property scam of crores came to light in Gujarat, very shocking revelations during investigation

In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 5 accused have been arrested in the Waqf property scam worth Rs 100 crore. According to media reports, this Naka was charging the rent of the house and shop built on Waqf’s land for 17 years. These people used to call themselves a trustee of Waqf. The arrested people also include a history sheeter.

Police said on Sunday that five people have been arrested for allegedly charging the rent of the buildings built on the land of two trusts in Ahmedabad registered under the State Waqf Board for 17 years. According to the FIR lodged at the Gaikwad Haveli police station in the city, the accused charged the fare of about 100 houses and shops built on the land of the Kanchani Masjid Trust and Shah Bada Kasam Trust.

DCP Bharat Rathore said that an FIR has been lodged against him for fraud and making fake documents. Investigation revealed that he had misused the property of the trust registered under the Waqf Board for private benefits. Waqf property is dedicated to religious or charitable purposes. Income from such assets is usually used for religious activities, donations or public benefits.

He said that the accused illegally constructed in an area of ​​more than 5000 square meters of both trusts. He built about 100 properties (houses and shops) between 2008 and 2025 and recovered the fare every month. The five have been identified as Salim Khan Pathan, Mohammad Yasir Sheikh, Mahmud Khan Pathan, Faiz Mohammad Chobdar and Shahid Ahmed Sheikh. He said that Salim Khan Pathan is a history sheeter and five cases are registered against him.

Mohammad Rafiq Ansari, the tenant of properties built on the land of Kanchi Masjid Trust, said that none of the accused is a member of any trust. He said that apart from using the rent for his benefit, the accused also claimed the money deposited in the donation vessel of Shah Bada Kashi Trust. The accused also built 15 shops on the land of Kanchani Masjid Trust. He said that this land was earlier given to AMC for Urdu School.

The school building was damaged during the 2001 earthquake. AMC demolished the school in 2009 and transferred it to a nearby area. In the midst of all this, fake trustees built ten shops, one of which was used by accused Salim Khan to open his office. The complainant said that another house has been rented.

The complaint also said that the rent collected by the accused was neither deposited in the account of the trust nor given to the AMC. In this way, he cheated the AMC and Waqf Board. The media report also claimed that they were illegally charging rent from about 25 to 30 shops located on the trust’s land as a trustee. These people were charging rent from 15 residential properties i.e. about 200 houses. It has also been claimed that these people have illegally collected around Rs 100 crore.