Karnataka CM buried CID report on wakf assets, says Mumtaz Ali Khan

Bengaluru: Former minister Dr Mumtaz Ali Khan has made a startling revelation that CM Siddaramaiah did not give permission to prosecute officials and politicians who were involved in alleged encroachment of wakf properties on the basis of an inquiry report by CID.

Dr Khan, who quit the Congress over a year ago, told Deccan Chronicle that the CM simply 'rejected' the report by  CID SP Dr Mahesh and did not give permission to nail the accused.

The issue (misuse of wakf properties) was referred to CID by the previous BJP government following complaints of irregularities in the management of wakf properties across the State.

He said that the CID officer had toured the state and came out with a report naming several political bigwigs and influential persons for the gross misuse of wakf properties worth crores of rupees. The report was submitted to the state government just a few months after Mr Siddaramaiah became CM.

Unfortunately, instead of acting on it, the CM reportedly gave a decent burial to the report. Dr Khan said he would not vouch for the special report prepared by Mr Anwar Manappady, former chairman of Karnataka State Minorities

Commission due to several shortcomings. Firstly, the report has been prepared without proper valuation and  a scientific survey of wakf properties. Even the estimate of the misused properties was not correct. Secondly, Mr Manappady had reportedly got the signatures of the committee, after the panel's tenure ended.

“According to me, Mr Manappady’s report has no relevance. If one (read BJP) wants to nail the Siddaramaiah government, it is the CID report that can really put the government in a fix.”