Hyderabad advocate fighting Waqf cases murder; Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president among 7 arrested

HYDERABAD: A week after the alleged hit-and-run murder of advocate Khaja Moizuddin in Shanti Nagar, Masab Tank, Hyderabad police on Friday arrested seven accused, including Anwar-ul-Uloom Group of Institutions owner Mehboob Alam Khan and his son Mujahed Alam Khan, vice-president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee.

Investigators said the conspiracy to kill Moizuddin was hatched as early as Jan. Addressing the media, police commissioner VC Sajjanar said Mujahed and Mehboob plotted the murder due to long-standing disputes with Moizuddin dating back to 2013.

Moizuddin, 63, was struck by a speeding vehicle outside his residence in Shanti Nagar on May 23 while leaving for a swimming pool. He had been practicing as a senior advocate in the high court and city civil courts for more than 35 years.

"Investigation revealed that disputes existed between the families of Mujahed and Moizuddin relating to specific Waqf properties at Malakpet and Lakdikapul. Several civil, criminal and Waqf Tribunal cases have been pending between the two groups for many years," Sajjanar said.

According to police, the father-son duo allegedly paid Rs 15 lakh to their workers, Hassan Ali and Muneer, to execute the plan. Hassan and Muneer then allegedly engaged Kishan, a hired killer.

"Muneer and Hassan later handed over the cash to Kishan to arrange logistics for the execution of the plan. Kishan engaged his associate Vinay, who in turn roped in Abhijit through his friend Vikram Aditya to carry out the murder. Mujahid arranged an additional Rs 2 lakh through Hassan for the procurement of a Scorpio used in the offence," Sajjanar explained.

Police said Kishan, Vinay, another associate named Nani, and others had been tracking Moizuddin's movements since Jan. After the murder, the accused fled to different locations. Kishan was eventually arrested in Panipat, Haryana, and reportedly confessed, revealing details of the conspiracy and the roles of the accused.

Based on his statement, police arrested the remaining accused from different parts of Hyderabad over the past week. On Friday, all seven accused, including Mujahed and Mehoob, were produced before the media.

Background of the Alam family

Mehoob Alam Khan, one of the prime accused, is a noted culinary expert and five-star chef known for his expertise in Hyderabadi and Deccani cuisine. Apart from his culinary career, he manages several educational institutions, including the autonomous Anwar-ul-Uloom College in Mallepally, which offers professional courses across multiple disciplines except medicine.

The dispute involving murdered advocate Khaja Moizuddin, Mehoob Alam Khan and his son Mujahed is believed to have stemmed from changes in certain institutional rules. Incidentally, Moizuddin's father-in-law, advocate Ghulam Yazdani, was once associated with these institutions. Yazdani passed away in Hyderabad on Friday.

According to official records, Anwar-ul-Uloom High School at Habeebnagar occupies nearly 3,000 square yards, while the autonomous Anwar-ul-Uloom College stands on approximately 15,000 square yards. In Malakpet, Mumtaz College is spread over 23 acres, while Nawab Shah Alam Engineering College occupies around 6.5 acres. All these prime properties are registered as Waqf lands with the Telangana Waqf Board.

Mehboob is the son of noted industrialist Nawab Shah Alam Khan, who once headed the Golconda cigarette factory in Chikkadpally. A major road junction in the area still bears the name of the now-defunct Golconda brand. The family, however, continues to manufacture cigarettes for a leading tobacco brand.