Case registered against Municipality President Irfan Saifi in Thakurdwara for demanding extortion of Rs 50 lakh

Yameen Vikat, Thakurdwara. The high-voltage drama that has been going on for the last two days in Thakurdwara, Moradabad has now taken a serious legal turn. The uproar, which started over a land dispute on Saturday, deepened on Sunday night when the police registered a case against the Municipality Chairman and two other unidentified people for demanding extortion. After this action, the turmoil in the politics of entire Moradabad district has intensified.

Actually, the police has taken this step on the complaint of the victim businessman Avnish Kumar Singhal. It is alleged that Municipality President Irfan Saifi was mentally harassing the businessman for the last several months and a huge amount of Rs 50 lakh was being demanded from him. After the case was registered on Sunday night, police teams have now started investigating the case in detail.

Police action taken late night and sections of the case

Thakurdwara police put official seal on this matter late on Sunday night around 11 pm. It is being told that after the uproar on Saturday, there was huge pressure on the police administration from businessmen and BJP leaders. After gheraoing the police station and raising slogans, the police have registered a case against Municipality Chairman Irfan Saifi and two other unknown persons on the basis of evidence and complaint.

According to police sources, serious sections related to extortion and intimidation have been imposed in this case. In fact, the atmosphere had started deteriorating on Saturday when the Municipal Corporation team along with the police force had arrived to set up a ‘Khokha’ on the businessman’s land located in front of the police station. The businessman had alleged that this land is his ancestral and registered deed property, which is being misused by the administration to take possession of it.

Businessman’s allegation: ‘The game of threats was going on for months’

Avnish Kumar Singhal, owner of ‘Parakh Jewellers’, told the police that this was not just a land dispute, but the intention behind it was to directly extort money. He has clearly stated in his complaint that Municipality President Irfan Saifi was pressurizing him to give Rs 50 lakh for the last 4 months.

The businessman claims that before the action taken on Sunday, a message was sent to him on Saturday morning also. He was told that “If the money is not arranged even today, then a kiosk will be placed in front of the shop as government land and the road will be blocked.” When he refused to pay the money, after a few hours the municipal team reached the spot with a cabin in a tractor-trolley. Local traders say that if there was no protest in time, the place would have been forcibly occupied.

Municipality President’s counterattack: “Everything will become clear in the investigation”

On the other hand, after the registration of the case, there is panic in the camp of Municipal President Irfan Saifi also. However, Irfan Saifi has already rejected these allegations outright. He says that this entire matter is a conspiracy to defame him politically. According to him, the land on which the attempt was made to keep the kiosk is part of Government Khasra No. 51 and is the property of the municipality.

Irfan Saifi has publicly demanded that “the police should investigate the call records and mobile tower location of me and the businessman who made the allegations. I neither made a call nor met anyone in this regard.” The municipal administration argues that they were only trying to secure government property by removing encroachments from it, but it was given the color of extortion.

Political activity and next move of police

This case has completely heated up the local politics of Thakurdwara. On one hand, business organizations and BJP leaders are calling it a victory against ‘hooliganism’, while on the other hand, the opposition camp is calling it pressure from the government. After the chaos that continued in the police station till late night on Sunday, the police is now preparing to record the statements of witnesses in this case.

Top officials of Moradabad Police say that the law is taking its course and no innocent person will be implicated, but if evidence is found then arrest is also possible. At present, additional police force is deployed to maintain peace in the area and people are waiting to know what is the truth behind this ‘extortion’ mystery of Rs 50 lakh.