By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Nagpur: In an attempt to crack down on the corrupt practices the Maharashtra state wakf board has suspended its regional officer Shaikh Zafar Shaikh Ibrahim posted in Nagpur for his alleged involvement in corrupt practices.
Shaikh, a resident of Beed district had his retirement due in June this year but is now put on suspension after the judicial commission submitted its report indicting him for making false allegations against senior officials.
For representation purpose (TCN file photo)
The Commission was appointed in October 2007 to investigate the alleged irregularities involving 92,000 acres of wakf land across the state. The commission was appointed after senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari had vocally levelled allegations of irregularities and corruption in the board.
Reportedly the judicial commission submitted its report in 2011, but it was charred in the accidental fire in Mantralaya in June 2012. The then INC-NC government ordered the commission to again prepare the report, which was submitted later in May 2013.
Acting on the report on March 19 the minority development department sent a letter to Wakf board CEO directing him to suspend Shaikh and initiate a departmental inquiry against him.
After receiving the department’s directives, the board issued suspension orders on Friday under section 4 (1) of the Maharashtra Civil Services (conduct) Rule, 1979.
Wakf officials said that Shaikh is also accused of carrying the board chairman’s letterhead papers and using them for passing orders by forging signatures.
Syed Aejaz Hussain, CEO of Wakf board who was also part of investigative officer in the case confirmed the development and said the accused officer stands suspended in accordance to the directives of the minorities development department.
According to a report in Times of India, another senior official from the minorities development department said on the condition of anonymity that the alleged incidents of Shaikh politically pressurizing the Wakf board officers and lodging false complaints against senior officials for not bending down to his demands has forced the development department to initiate action against him.
The move has been lauded by the minority people expecting it to send a strong message to other corrupt officials in the board.
Social activist and advocate N. Khan from Vidarbh region said, “Such actions will create fear amongst the corrupt officers in the board and would ultimately help in controlling graft in the board”.
[ with inputs from Times Of India]