Maharashtra govt appointed men with links to Dawood Ibrahim to the Waqf Board, claims Devendra Fadnavis
India Today
The Maharashtra opposition leader on Monday accused the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of appointing people with links to fugitive gangster and terrorist Dawood Ibrahim to the state's Waqf Board.
Maharashtra opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis on Monday accused the MVA government of appointing people with links to fugitive gangster and terrorist Dawood Ibrahim on the state's Waqf Board, a charge rejected by ruling coalition partner NCP, which alleged that an office-bearer mentioned by him was named to the board when the BJP was in power.
Speaking in the Assembly, Fadnavis said a pen drive he had submitted contained a conversation between Waqf Board members Mohammad Arshad Khan and Mudasir Lambe.
During the conversation, Lambe claimed his father-in-law was an associate of Ibrahim, while Khan said his uncle was part of the underworld, Fadnavis told the House.
State home minister Dilip Walse Patil told the Lower House that Lambe was not appointed by MVA on the Waqf Board. "He is an elected member as of August 30, 2019. We will see how action can be taken against him," he added.
Fadnavis alleged that Khan is in jail, while Lambe is outside despite facing rape charges.
The daughter of Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik, who handles the Waqf department and who is currently in jail, repudiated Fadnavis's allegation.
Sana Malik-Shaikh countered Fadnavis, saying it was the previous government in the state led by him (2014-19) that appointed Lambe, whom the BJP leader accused of having links with Ibrahim, to the Board.
