Telangana Wakf chief faces allegations of murky dealings

HYDERABAD: The Telangana State Wakf Board (TSWB) appears to have been embroiled in a fresh controversy as allegations against its chief executive officer (CEO) Mohammed Asadullah and other staff have surfaced.
According to sources, the board recently released an advertisement calling for bids so that a portion of the Naal-e-Mubarak ashoorkhana in Pathergatti can be given on lease.The board, the sources explained, had misrepresented the portion as an empty shop.
The issue came to light after former board member and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen legislator Syed Altaf Hyder Razvi flagged it to the Minorities Welfare Department secretary and TSWB Competent Authority Syed Omer Jaleel.
The legislator shot off a letter to Jaleel reiterating that the institution is in the direct management of the board. Terming the naqqarkhana as a "mulgi" (shop), he added, is a misrepresentation of facts and is illegal.
"The naqqarkhana cannot be leased out or rented out as it attracts the change in the nature of wakf, which is against the Wakf Act of 1995," an excerpt from the letter reads. Razvi claimed that the action of the board has hurt the sentiments and urged Jaleel to fix responsibility and take appropriate action against errant officers.
Responding to the letter, the MWD secretary shot off a memo, a copy of which is available with TOI, instructing him to take the advertisement down without any delay. "The chief executive officer, Telangana State Wakf Board, Hyderabad, is therefore, requested to withdraw the advertisement immediately, and also submit the detailed report, how and why this was notified (sic)," an excerpt from the memo reads.
In another controversy, allegations of misappropriation of funds have been levelled against the CEO and others. Sources said that the board staff recently embarked on a "rent collection drive" after which they withdrew money from the wakf fund as "incentive". A list shows that 20 members of the staff, a including driver, computer operators and cashiers, apart from the CEO, were paid small amounts for working for 56 days.Responding to the allegations, MWD secretary Syed Omar Jaleel, who is also the TSWB Competent Authority, said, "I have called for a report on the issue. We will determine what has happened and then take a call. The initial impression given to me is that there is a precedent which allows incentives. However, this will be confirmed."
It was earlier reported in these columns that the board has employed three septuagenarians. The move raised hackles among board staff. "This matter too is being investigated. If this is true, then they will be removed," Jaleel said.