Atiq Ahmed Killing: SC to Hear Plea Seeking Independent on April 24th; Benami Properties and Gunda Tax Unearthed
NEW DELHI: The SC on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea seeking an independent probe into the killing of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf while they were in police custody. The apex court posting the hearing for April 24th it said, ” “Issue guidelines/directions to safeguard the rule of law by constituting an independent expert committee under the chairmanship of a former Supreme Court justice to inquire into the 183 encounters which had occurred since 2017 as stated by Uttar Pradesh Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) and also to inquire into the police custody murder of Atiq and Ashraf.”
The plea submitted by advocate Vishal Tiwari pressed the power punishment if only vested in the judiciary and no police officer is authorized to deliver the final justice. “When the police turn “daredevils then the entire rule of law collapses and generates fear in the mind of people against the police which is very dangerous for democracy and this also results in more crimes,” the plea further mentioned.
Reports also reveal slain Atiq Ahmed, had several benami properties in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area. The source said that Atiq’s kin used to receive rent to the tune of lakhs of rupees per month from the properties.
Furthermore, reports of Atiq extorting money have also surfaced. Sources have found that used to deposit this money (gunda tax) in his bank account. It is alleged that the jailed MLA used to election tax big builders and other businessmen who wanted to contest elections. During the elections, he issued issue the slips (for taxes).
Meanwhile, a letter addressing UP CM from Don turned politician’ absconding wife, Shaistha has surfaced. Dated 27 Feb, the letter mentioned that top cops on the orders of a minister in the UP Police were conspiring to kill her husband and brother-in-law under police custody. Shaista also claimed that a minister had given the contract to police officers to kill Umesh Pal.
Interestingly this letter was written three days before Lawyer Umesh Pal was murdered.