ED (Enforcement Directorate) has taken a big action against Arif Anwar Hashmi, who was an MLA from Samajwadi Party. On Tuesday, the agency confiscated properties worth Rs 8.24 crore belonging to Hashmi and his wife Rosie Salma. This includes residential flats, agricultural and commercial land. A total of 21 immovable properties have been confiscated by ED.
The ED began the investigation on the basis of several FIRs lodged against Arif Anwar Hashmi, his brothers and other associates alleging criminal conspiracy, cheating, fraud and forgery. Hashmi has also been declared a gangster under the UP Gangster Act. The former SP MLA is also accused of illegal encroachment and land grabbing.
After investigation in these cases, the police have also filed several charge sheets against Hashmi and others for illegal encroachment, forgery, fraud and criminal conspiracy. ED investigation has revealed that Arif Anwar Hashmi has been involved in crimes of illegal encroachment and land grabbing since 1984.
ED's investigation has also revealed tampering with government documents related to land records. Along with this, many cases of earning illegal money through other means have come to light. Investigation has revealed that the confiscated properties have been acquired from the proceeds of crime. These properties are in Lucknow, Balrampur and Gonda.
Arif Anwar Hashmi has been a Samajwadi Party MLA. He has been elected twice as MLA from Uttaraula seat in Balrampur. Hashmi and his brother Sadullah are history-sheeters in the records of the city police.
Hashmi is accused of getting government land belonging to Sadullah Nagar Police Station registered in his name. The police have also registered a case against him in this matter. Apart from this, he has been named in 27 cases. In an investigation conducted by the Revenue Department in 2023, allegations of land grabbing came to light.
