The Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board has executed one of its most substantial actions against long-term illegal encroachments by targeting a prime 2.7-acre Waqf property situated along Sultania Road in old Bhopal. Following the implementation of updated central Waqf provisions, a comprehensive audit uncovered that unauthorized occupants had been generating millions of rupees annually by operating a commercial market and a full-fledged hospital building on the site without authorization. In response to this two-decade-long financial misrepresentation, authorities have lodged a formal criminal complaint with the police while simultaneously issuing a Revenue Recovery Certificate amounting to ₹28.91 crore against the key figures involved.
Two Decades of Unauthorized Rental Revenue Generation
According to detailed case filings, the 2.7-acre parcel of land in the Idara Yatimkhana Shahjahani area of Sultania Road had been under the unauthorized control of office-bearers associated with an entity named the Darul Shafqat Society. MP Waqf Board Chairman Dr. Sanwar Patel disclosed that over the past 20 years, the occupants illegally accumulated upwards of ₹2 crore each year in rent collected from commercial activities on the premises. To recover these unaccounted earnings, the board has formally initiated process to reclaim the full sum of ₹28.91 crore.
The illegal occupants established hundreds of commercial shops across the property without securing mandatory approvals or a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Waqf Board. Ever since the 2004-05 financial year, no financial statements, rental receipts, or expenditure records were submitted to the board, effectively depriving the institution of its lawful revenue for twenty consecutive years.
Fraudulent Affidavits and Municipal Approvals for Hospital Construction
Investigations revealed that Shahid Aleem Khan, president of the Darul Shafqat Society, alongside other organizational representatives, misrepresented ownership records before local administrative bodies to erect permanent structures. While submitting applications to the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, the society falsely declared itself as the lawful titleholder and absolute owner of the 2.7-acre Waqf plot. Utilizing these fabricated declarations and sworn affidavits, they successfully obtained municipal building approvals to construct a hospital facility.
Furthermore, when leasing out the newly built hospital premises to third-party medical practitioners and operators, the society executed legal agreements asserting their full ownership rights over the land. All of these development activities were carried out without obtaining prior permission, clearance, or documentation from the MP Waqf Board.
Property Gazette-Notified as Waqf Land Since 1961
Official records confirm that the 2.7-acre property along Sultania Road has been officially gazette-notified as an established Waqf asset under the Madhya Pradesh state administration since 1961. Historical documents demonstrate that the NGO Darul Shafqat Society had only been granted conditional permission to operate a institutional, charitable activity within a strictly limited portion of the land.
However, the management of the society expanded its presence beyond the permitted scope, asserting complete ownership over the entire 2.7-acre expanse. Despite the binding 1961 gazette notification designating the parcel as protected Waqf land, the society routinely bypassed statutory requirements and converted the entire area into a lucrative commercial hub.
The 20-Year Operation of the Iztima Commercial Market
A major source of unauthorized income on the disputed site was the Iztima market, which operated continuously for 20 years in violation of regulatory norms. Each year, hundreds of temporary and permanent shop stalls were rented out to merchants, generating massive financial returns. Instead of depositing these proceeds into official Waqf Board accounts, the society's leadership diverted the funds for unauthorized private and organizational uses.
Averaging more than ₹2 crore annually over two decades, these unrecorded transactions compounded into a total illicit collection of ₹28.91 crore. The Waqf Board has classified this accumulated sum as outstanding public dues and initiated formal revenue recovery proceedings to seize the assets of those responsible.
Uncovering the Irregularities Through the UMID Portal
The exposure of this multi-crore land occupation was brought to light through the Central Government's newly launched UMID portal. As part of wider reforms under updated Waqf mandates, a nationwide digital verification drive was instituted to inspect 14,591 properties registered on the system. During the detailed cross-examination of land registry records and physical site data, auditors identified severe discrepancies surrounding the Sultania Road property.
A thorough verification comparing portal entries against the original 1961 gazette notification confirmed that the Darul Shafqat Society lacked any legitimate authority to construct a hospital or run commercial bazaars on the site, prompting immediate legal action by the board.
Criminal FIR Filed at Shahjahanabad Police Station and RRC Issued
Taking strong note of the systematic fraud, the MP Waqf Board directed law enforcement to initiate criminal proceedings against Darul Shafqat Society president Shahid Aleem Khan and associated office-bearers. The Shahjahanabad police station subsequently registered an FIR under Sections 318(4) and 316(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which relate to cheating and criminal breach of trust.
Alongside the criminal charges, the Waqf Board issued a Revenue Recovery Certificate (RRC) for ₹28.91 crore to compel the recovery of delinquent funds through revenue authorities. Dr. Sanwar Patel indicated that these decisive measures were executed after a lengthy judicial process culminated in a favorable court ruling for the board.
Political Connections and Ongoing Investigation
Addressing the broader context of the case, MP Waqf Board Chairman Dr. Sanwar Patel highlighted that individuals involved in unauthorized encroachments on high-value Waqf lands frequently maintained influential political ties. He stated that the primary individuals who held the 2.7-acre Bhopal property were affiliated with the Congress party, suggesting that political backing enabled the illegal operation to persist unchecked for two decades.
At present, officers at the Shahjahanabad police station are conducting a detailed investigation based on the registered FIR. Law enforcement authorities are examining financial accounts, seizing relevant construction permits, and scrutinizing the role of all office-bearers to ensure thorough legal accountability.
