The Ayodhya sub-committee of the Sunni Central Waqf Board has demanded an FIR against two persons for fraudulently selling Masjid land worth Rs 30 lakh to the secretary of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra.
In a letter addressed to the district magistrate of Ayodhya, the committee alleged that Champat Rai, general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, on September 1, paid an advance of Rs 15 lakh based on an agreement for the sale of the land which belongs to a masjid, and is a waqf property. A Waqf property- be it movable or immovable is a charitable endowment permanently assigned to the ownership of Allah.
The letter says that even the Waqf board does not have the authority to sell such property. It alleges that there is immense anger among Muslims over this ‘despicable’ act.
The Masjid under question is under Panji Tola Sheher of Ayodhya and it has been notified as a Waqf property in gazette. Part of the property was acquired for the widening of the Ram Path. The remainder was renovated and is being used to offer namaz five times a day.
Mohd. Azam Qadri, President of the Sunni Central Waqf Board, Area Sub-committee, Ayodhya said, “There is no Mutawalli (caretaker) for an estimated 250 such properties Waqf properties in Ayodhya. These are under the care of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee. Yet, two persons, Rais Ahmed and Noor Alam, who are residents of the area, somehow posed as the caretakers and got into an agreement with the Teerth Kshetra for the sale of the Masjid (land)”.
Qadri added that the reason they came to know so late about the situation was that registries involving the SRJTK do not take place at the registry office, these are done at the office of the trust.
“Though we had heard rumours that some misdeed was afoot, those involved kept denying it”, said Qadri. Without a clear answer from those responsible, the Board then decided to give a petition at the Ram Janmbhoomi police station. On Thursday, this was followed up by a representation to the DM’s office.
“It is members of our own community who have committed this act. Thus, our demand is for legal action against them. Champat Rai is not to blame”, said Qadri.
