CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: The driver of Shiv Sena's MP and former state minister Sandipan Bhumre and his MLA son, Vilas, is facing an inquiry by Economic Offences Wing (EOW) over the receipt of a three-acre prime land at Dawoodpura on Jalna Road in Sambhajinagar, valued at Rs150 crore as per the Ready Reckoner rate, in a 'Hibanama' (gift deed) from one of the descendants of the Salar Jung family in Hyderabad, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city police said.
"The inquiry is based on a complaint lodged by a lawyer from Parbhani," Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar commissioner of police Pravin Pawar told TOI on Thursday.
The Salar Jung family was a prominent noble family, whose members served as prime ministers to the Nizams in the erstwhile Hyderabad estate.
Cop lens on MP's driver for gift land
Sambhaji Pawar, the EOW inspector, told TOI, "We have summoned the driver, Jawed Rasul Shaikh (38), for questioning and asked him to submit copies of his I-T returns, established sources of income, and to explain on what basis the gift deed has been signed in his name. The family members, who executed the gift deed, have so far failed to turn up."
TOI on Thursday tried to contact the Salar Jung family members. However, these numbers were switched off. The Sena MP's son, Vilas Bhumre, who represents Paithan assembly constituency, told TOI, "The EOW officials asked me questions on this matter. I told them that we are in no way related to the land transaction. 'Hibanama' is a legally valid means of transaction of properties. Though Jawed is our driver, we do not have control over everything he does."
Driver Jawed told TOI, "I have been cooperating with the inquiry and have submitted all details. I have been employed with the Bhumres for the last 12 to 13 years as a driver on their vehicles. The police asked me about information related to the land. I told them that I received it through Hibanama. I share good relations with the descendants of the family, and so they gifted the land to me."
The EOW is inquiring into the Hibanama signed by the Salar Jung descendants - Mir Mazhar Ali Khan and six of his kin.
Police said the gift deed states Salar Jung's private piece of land, measuring 12 acres, is situated in the Bagsherganj area, Dawoodpura. It states the family received 12,438.2 square metres as a share after a series of litigations at the land records office and the secretariat, before the minister of state for revenue, on Jan 30, 2023, upheld the superintendent of land record's decision passed in 2016, ruling it in their favour. Police said around the same time, Salar Jung descendants signed a Hibanama in favour of Jawed.
Parbhani lawyer Mujahid Khan, who reported the matter to police, asked, "Why would Salar Jung's descendants give a gift deed to a driver in Sambhajinagar, and that too after the matter has been ruled in their favour. A Hibanama is legally valid only if done in blood relations. Here, the Salar Jung descendants and the driver are not only unrelated but also belong to two different sects of Islam."