Bharuch: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Gujarat has booked five individuals for demanding a bribe of ₹1 crore on behalf of the then CEO of the Gujarat State Waqf Board, M.H. Khumar.

According to the ACB, the complainant had purchased land belonging to the Lawara Mosque in Haladara village, Bharuch district, through a sale deed from its caretakers. Subsequently, the land was converted for non-agricultural (NA) use, and construction was undertaken. However, the then CEO of the Gujarat State Waqf Board, M.H. Khumar, along with his associates, alleged that the land was purchased illegally and threatened the complainant with filing an FIR. They demanded a hefty bribe to avoid filing the FIR. The complainant recorded conversations regarding the bribe demands on a mobile phone and submitted the recordings to the ACB on a pen drive.

Following the complaint, the ACB launched an investigation. During the probe, it was found that Deputy Collector Vijay Zhinabhai Chauhan (currently suspended), along with Chelaram Jethalal Panchal, Arjun Shivlal Joshi, and Prakash Mansukhbhai Nakiya, acting on behalf of the Waqf Board CEO, initially demanded ₹4 crore. This amount was later negotiated to ₹1 crore, with ₹11 lakh to be paid immediately and the remaining ₹89 lakh after finalizing the deal. Additionally, another accused, Mohammad Hussain alias Chinabhai Ganibhai Gaikwad, demanded ₹1.5 lakh to arrange a meeting between the complainant and the Waqf Board CEO to ensure the FIR was not filed.

Based on the evidence, a case was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (Amended in 2018), Sections 7, 7(A), and 12, at the ACB Police Station in Gandhinagar. The accused, including Deputy Collector Vijay Zhinabhai Chauhan, Chelaram Jethalal Panchal, Arjun Shivlal Joshi, Prakash Mansukhbhai Nakiya, and Mohammad Hussain alias Chinabhai Ganibhai Gaikwad, have been booked as part of the investigation. DeshGujarat