Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh): A serious case of alleged land grabbing and document forgery has been registered in Sambhal district, where the Imam of Jama Masjid, Maulana Aftab Hussain Waris, and his brother Mehtab Hussain have been named in a criminal FIR for allegedly converting government land into Waqf property through fraudulent means.
The complaint, filed by the revenue department, alleges that the accused concealed facts and used forged documentation to illegally secure ownership records in their favour.
Public Land Conversions and Revenue Record Manipulations
According to investigation-related documents, the disputed land is located in the Saif Khan Sarai area of Sambhal. Revenue records classify the two-acre plot as government land reserved for public use and community tree plantation. Authorities have estimated the current market value of the land to be over ₹5 crore, making the case financially and legally significant.
Officials allege that several decades ago, the two brothers, in connivance with certain local revenue personnel, manipulated land records to get the public property mutated in their names. Subsequently, structures including a residential building, a mosque, and a dargah were constructed on the land. It is further alleged that the original nature of the land was concealed and it was later registered with the Waqf Board using questionable documents.
A key aspect of the case is that the dispute over the land is not new. Historical records show that a local administrative court had already cancelled the mutation and registration of the property on January 27, 2003, ruling that the land was government-owned and the registration was invalid. However, despite the court order, the structures on the land reportedly remained intact, and encroachment was never fully removed.
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Statutory FIR Bookings and Damage to Public Property
Following a fresh and detailed inquiry, the revenue department reopened the case. Based on the complaint, police have registered an FIR against Maulana Aftab Hussain Waris, Mehtab Hussain, and certain revenue officials alleged to have assisted in the process. The FIR includes sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to cheating, forgery, use of forged documents, criminal conspiracy, and provisions concerning damage to public property.
The legal pressure in the case had already been mounting. Earlier, a local court had ordered the demolition of the disputed structures on March 7 and imposed a penalty of nearly ₹7 crore on the accused for long-term encroachment. The accused parties have challenged the order before higher administrative authorities, and the matter is still pending final adjudication.
Document Scrutiny and Waqf Registration Appraisals
The fresh FIR has now widened the scope of investigation. Authorities say the case is no longer limited to encroachment alone but also involves alleged manipulation of land ownership records and concealment of facts during the Waqf registration process. Investigators are now examining the role of individuals involved in documentation and whether procedural violations or deliberate assistance were provided at any stage.
Officials further stated that multiple layers of inquiry are underway, including verification of old land records, mutation entries, and Waqf registration documents. The focus has also shifted to identifying whether systemic lapses or intentional wrongdoing allowed the alleged irregularities to persist for years.
Administrative Irregularities and Systemic Lapses
Legal experts believe that if allegations of forged documentation and deliberate concealment of facts are proven, the accused could face serious legal consequences under criminal law provisions related to forgery, fraud, conspiracy, and unlawful possession of government property.
At present, both police and revenue authorities are jointly scrutinizing records and historical orders related to the case. Officials indicate that further revelations are likely as the investigation progresses, especially since the probe now extends beyond land dispute issues to possible administrative irregularities and document tampering at multiple levels.
