ED Raids Multiple Sites In ₹100 Crore Waqf Property Rent Scam Linked To Fake Trustee Racket In Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a major crackdown on a ₹100 crore financial fraud involving unauthorized exploitation of Waqf properties, conducting simultaneous searches at 10 locations across Ahmedabad. The operation centers around Salim Jummakhan Pathan, who is accused of orchestrating a sophisticated scheme by impersonating a trustee of the Gujarat State Waqf Board.

The probe stems from a First Information Report filed by Gaekwad Haveli police, which previously led to the arrest of five individuals who allegedly masqueraded as Waqf Board trustees. Investigators say the group illicitly collected rent from several high-value properties, including Kaanch Ni Masjid and Shah Bada Qasam Trust in Jamalpur, despite lacking any legal authority.

A significant element of the scam involves commercial plots originally leased to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) by the Waqf Board for school use. One such site, damaged during the 2001 earthquake, was reportedly demolished in 2009 by the accused, who then began renting the land for private gain.

At the heart of the operation is Salim Pathan, who is believed to have launched a front—Sodagar Construction—out of one of the illegally leased shops. He then sublet multiple units, redirecting the revenue stream entirely, bypassing both the Waqf Board and the AMC.

The ED’s investigation is probing deeper into allegations of money laundering and misuse of public assets. Officials are also looking into how such a large-scale fraud went undetected for years and whether more individuals or institutions were complicit.