By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Mumbai: The Movement for Peace and Justice (MPJ) has strongly protested the unceremonious transfer of Mr. A.R. Shaikh from the office of State Wakf Board CEO.
Shaikh was credited with pursuing the case against Mukesh Ambani’s dream house on a waqf land. On May 3rd, Shaikh was transferred out of Maharashtra Wakf Board.
His transfer will hamper Wakf Board attempt in recovering Wakf properties illegally encroached upon.
The President of MPJ(Maharashtra) Mr. Mohammed Siraj termed this transfer as mischievous and meant to stifle and block the proactive role played by the Mr. A.R. Shaikh in restoring Wakf properties.
Shaikh joined the Board on November 3, 2006 as its CEO on deputation from Vidarbha’s Rural Development Department. Normally, a deputation is for three years but in his case it lasted for one and a half years.
Ambani’s firm Antilia Commercial Private Limited had acquired 4,532 sq metres of land at Altamount Road in south Mumbai six years ago from Currimbhoy Ebrahim Khoja Orphanage in a public auction for over Rs 21 crore. The Board told the court that the plot was sold on the condition that an orphanage would be constructed there. The Board had requested the court to order restoration of the property to it as it was being used for commercial purposes.
Ambani’s 27-story building will be one of the costliest buildings on the planet. Ambani is among the five richest persons on earth.
MPJ issued a statement that said that it plans to take this issue to the common people by organizing protest rallies throughout Maharashtra if the transfer is not revoked in couple of days.