Board’s top post has always been mired in controversy
The arrest of N.D. Pathan on Saturday has once again brought to the fore the controversies surrounding the post of state Wakf board CEO. In the past, two former CEOs of the Wakf board were also transferred under controversial circumstances.
On Saturday, Pathan was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of `30,000 from a local resident at his residence in Nanded. Incidentally, Pathan’s predecessor Sadique Ali Qadri had also lost this post on charges of allegations. He was, however, transferred without any arrest.
According to sources, Mr Qadri was appointed as CEO of the board on August 16, 2008, but was transferred in 2010 on the day he completed two years. Minority affairs minister Arif Naseem Khan transferred him following complaints of corruption against him. A high-level probe was also ordered by the minister to probe the charges.
According to sources, in 2008, another CEO of the board Abdul Rauf Shaikh was transferred to the rural development department for filing a special leave petition in the Supreme Court for restoration of a plot, where Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani’s dream mansion Antilia now exists. However, there was no charge of corruption against Mr Shaikh.
Reacting to the arrest, minority affairs minister said that the issue was “very serious” and the department would take strict action against Pathan.
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