E-Paper
With Atiq’s son Umar also in custody, four of family now behind bars
Neither cash rewards nor raids and attachment of properties could compel Atiq’s sons to surrender before police
Raids, cash rewards and even attachment of properties failed to bring both the absconding sons of mafiosi- turned-politician and former MP Atiq Ahmad in police net. Both of them were wanted in criminal cases but remained at large and surrendered at their own will despite all attempts made by police and CBI officials to arrest them.
Atiq’s son Umar who is eldest among his five siblings, surrendered before the special CBI court in Lucknow on Tuesday. With his surrender, Atiq and three other members of his family are now behind the bars. They are being kept at different jails and it is speculated that Umar may also be shifted to another jail soon.
Lucknow based realtor Mohit Jaiswal had registered an FIR on December 28, 2018 against Atiq Ahmad, Umar and their other aides at Krishna Nagar police station of Lucknow. Jaiswal had alleged that he was kidnapped by Umar and his accomplices from his office at Gomti Nagar and was taken to Deoria Jail.
He further claimed that Atiq and others tortured him at the jail and forced him to transfer his firms in their names. Umar’s name was later dropped from the FIR but he was again made an accused in the case when investigation was handed over to CBI and the agency lodged a fresh FIR. However, despite all attempts, Umar remained at large and a cash reward of ₹2 lakh was declared on his arrest.
Umar’s posters were also put up at different locations in Prayagraj, Lucknow and other cities declaring reward to person who will give information about him. CBI team also carried out raids at many locations and houses of kin of Atiq in Prayagraj, Meerut and other cities on several occasions after receiving tip off about Umar’s presence but to no avail. An LLB student, Umar is still to be questioned by investigators.
Meanwhile, Atiq’s younger son Ali also surrendered before the court in Prayagraj on July 30. Ali who was absconding since six months was wanted in a case of assault on a property dealer Zeeshan aka Janu in December 2021 in Kareli area. Besides local police, crime branch and STF was also roped in to trace and arrest Ali but he could not be arrested following which a reward of ₹50,000 was declared on his arrest. Ali too surrendered before the court and was taken on remand later. During questioning he informed police team that he was in Kolkata while on the run.
Police was only successful in arresting Atiq’s younger brother and former MLA Khalid Azeem aka Ashraf in July 2020. Ashraf was absconding for three years and was arrested from his in-laws’ home at Sallahpur area of Pipri in neighbouring Kaushambi district. Locals later claimed that Ashraf was often seen there but police failed to trace him. The circumstances under which Ashraf was arrested were also flimsy and a photograph of him in which he was seen sitting on a chair in police custody also went viral on social media platforms. Police later issued another photograph of Ashraf in police custody in which he was seen sitting on the ground.
Police attach Atiq’s property worth over ₹76 crore
In another blow to Atiq, police on Wednesday attached his properties at Rahimabad, Peepalgaon and Akbarpur areas of Dhumanganj. The estimated worth of total properties attached is over ₹76 crore, police officials said.
SP city Dinesh Kumar Singh said the properties were attached under Gangster Act lodged against Atiq Ahmad at Dhumanganj police station. The properties were identified in the series of investigations carried out by police.
The three properties are over 12 bighas in area and are at prime locations and worth over ₹76 crore. A report about these properties was forwarded to the district magistrate and they are being attached after his approval. Any trespass on the attached property is strictly prohibited and action will be ensured against trespassers. Prayagraj police is continuously taking action against mafias, gangsters and other criminals and identifying their properties in the district and other cities as well, he added.
