Patna, Nov 29 (IANS) Bihar State Minorities Commission Chairman Naushad Ahmad is in the eye of a storm for allegedly selling off government land as his own.
The case dates back to 1991 when Ahmad allegedly sold off a plot of government land to one Afsar Imam in Jehanabad, around 50 km from here. At the time of sale, Ahmad said the land belonged to a co-operative society.
But the fraud came to light when Imam began to erect a boundary wall.
“I was shocked when officials stopped work and informed me that the land belonged to the district board of Jehanabad. Ahmad had cheated me by selling government land as his own,” Imam said in his complaint to police.
Imam requested Ahmad to return the money, but he refused. Imam then filed a case in the Jehanabad civil court.
The court directed the local police to lodge a criminal case against Ahmad. After an arrest warrant was issued, Ahmad approached Patna High Court, which granted him bail.
Later, when the case was to come up for hearing in Jehanabad civil court, Ahmad again approached the Patna High Court for a stay order, but it refused.
Ahmad, who is reportedly close to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, was in the news recently for violating the sanctity of his constitutional post.
Opposition Congress and RJD leaders raised a hue and cry after Ahmed addressed two press conferences at ruling JD (U) party office here.
“As Ahmad holds a constitutional post as Chairman of Bihar State Minorities Commission, he is not expected to act like a JD (U) leader,” Congress leader Premchand Mishra said.
Mishra threatened to file a petition in the court against Ahmad for his disqualification as chairman.
The case comes up for hearing next month in Patna.