Uttar Pradesh: Benami Property Worth Rs 31 Crore Seized From Yakub Qureshi, Former Minister In BSP And SP Governments

On Monday (2 January), the district administration confiscated benami property, valued at Rs 31 crore, belonging to Yakub Qureshi, a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader and two-time MLA, under the provisions of the Gangster Act, according to officials.

The confiscated assets encompass a hospital building located in Bhavani Nagar, Nauchandi, and two high-end vehicles. It is alleged that Qureshi bought these properties under the names of his family members and employees, according to sources.

In Shastri Nagar, three plots of land have been seized, with areas measuring 3,265.35 square metres, 288 square metres, and 213.60 square metres respectively, The New Indian Express reported.

Rohit Singh Sajwan, the Senior Superintendent of Police, confirmed that they have adhered to the District Magistrate's court order under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act. As a result, the benami property of ex-minister Yakub Qureshi, estimated to be worth Rs 31 crore, has been seized.

Sajwan revealed that a raid was carried out by the police on 31 March 2022, in a meat factory owned by Qureshi in Meerut, where they discovered the packaging of unlawfully obtained meat.

Authorities detained 10 workers from the factory and identified 17 individuals, among them Qureshi, his spouse, and their two sons, in the FIR, according to the statement.

In December, a lawsuit was filed under the Gangster Act against the BSP leader, his spouse Shamjida Begum, their sons Firoz and Imran, and factory managers Mohit Tyagi, Mujeeb, and Faizyab.

Qureshi won as a BSP MLA in 2002 for the Kharkhaudha assembly constituency in Meerut ad then served as a minister in the government of the BSP.

He later assumed the role of a minister in the Samajwadi Party government in October 2003.

In 2007, he secured victory for the Meerut assembly seat, running under the banner of the Uttar Pradesh United Democratic Front (UPUDF).