Ex-MLA, bizman booked in Bijnor land grab case

Bijnor: A fresh FIR has been registered against plywood businessman Mohammad Talib, former MLA Mohammad Ghazi and 11 others in a land grab and assault case in Bijnor's Sherkot. Talib is already in jail in connection with an alleged attack on former BJP MP Bharatendra Singh.The complaint was filed by Sherkot Cooperative Housing Society member Shahid Ali, who alleged that the society purchased 25 bighas of land in 1989 for Rs 3.4 lakh, but only 12.5 bighas were registered in its name. The remaining land was allegedly transferred to fake members using forged documents.Police suspect Talib to be the mastermind who, along with relatives and associates, prepared fake papers and secured the land through internal sale deeds. The land in Mouja Rambadi, now a residential area, is estimated to be worth crores. The complainant also alleged misappropriation of sale proceeds.Ali said he had filed a complaint in 2008, when Ghazi was an MLA, but no action was taken. He further alleged that on April 17, the accused stopped him near the site, abused and assaulted him before locals intervened. Superintendent of police Abhishek Jha said an investigation is underway.Talib and his brothers were arrested on April 1 for allegedly attacking former MP Bharatendra Singh during an inspection on Chandpur Road. They are currently lodged in Bijnor jail.Officials said the dispute is also linked to an earlier forest department action in which a unit and stone crushers were sealed, following which a clash broke out during a de-sealing attempt.