Lucknow: Over six months after the killings of don-turned-politicians Atiq Ahmed and his brother Khalid Azeem alias Ashraf in police custody on April 15, the UP Police crackdown against their aides continues at full steam — as part of the drive to uproot organised crime in the state.
On Saturday, Prayagraj cops carried out the attachment of movable and immovable properties worth Rs 19.3 crore belonging to Mohd Saud and his brother Faiz Ahmed under the Gangster Act.
According to the police claim, Saud and Faiz were close associates of the slain gangster and had accumulated wealth through illegal means. They belong to the village Lohra near Sandipan Ghat.
While 16 criminal cases, including extortion, were registered against Saud, Faiz has three cases pending against him.
The duo find mention in the fresh dossier of 13 close associates/henchmen of Atiq prepared by the Prayagraj police.
While their properties have been attached, police are verifying records of others in the list and the same action will soon be initiated against them too, said a cop.
Besides, cops are also identifying the benami properties of slain gangsters and their henchmen across the state. They will also be seized, said an official.
A senior police official said, “We have deputed a dedicated team of 10 policemen to compile the details of movable and immovable assets of Atiq’s key henchmen with an objective to attach such properties accumulated through illegal means.”
Police claimed to have caused a loss of over Rs 850 crore to the slain don, his family and associates.
Moreover, joint teams of police, administration and revenue department had also demolished a total of 22 properties worth crores of rupees owned or constructed by Atiq or his associates.
The action is part of the drive to check organised crime and it will go on, said an official.
“After investigating and compiling documents that expose the illegal wealth accumulated by Atiq’s henchmen in Civil Lines, Mehdauri, Kareli, Khuldabad, Lukerganj, Andhawa Crossing road, Roshan Bagh, Kareli, Chakia, Jhalwa, Havelia, Kasari Masari, Puramufti and in neighbouring Kaushambi, police have further chalked out a plan to attach more properties under the Gangsters Act,” a police official said.
