Mukhtar’s close aide surrenders before police

Varanasi: On police radar in a case of fraud to procure arms licence, Meraj Ahmed alias Bhai Meraj, a close associate of jailed mafia don and MLA Mukhtar Ansari and member of slain mafia don Munna Bajrangi’s ganag, surrendered before Jaitpura police on Saturday.
SSP Amit Pathak said, “Meraj reached Saraiyya police outpost in morning and requested the in-charge to arrest him after disclosing his identity.Meraj also requested the cops to stop initiating action of confiscating his property. Taking note of it, the outpost cops confirmed his identity and when it became sure that he was Meraj Ahmed alias Bhai Meraj, cops arrested him.”
Police had lodged an FIR against Meraj for committing fraud and conspiracy to get an arms licence sanctioned in his name. During investigation of Jaitpura police, it came to light that Meraj had not only attached police report with fake signatures of Jaitpura police station officer and a sub-inspector, but also submitted fake treasury challan. After registration of case, Meraj had tried to seek interim bail to avoid his arrest but court rejected his plea.”
Police not only started issuing notices against the arms licences issued in the name of his family members, arms seizure, but also an the process of arms license cancellation and to seize his property. Two of his relatives have also been arrested.
Pathak said by going through his criminal history, it came to light that Meraj was active in crime world since 2002, when first criminal case was registered against him. So far, 14 cases lodged against him have come to light, he added.
Meraj had come to limelight when he was booked under section 3 (4) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) with Mukhtar, Bajrangi and Iftekhar Ahmed for being a member of an organised crime syndicate by the Special Cell of Delhi Police in 2009 for threatening a South Delhi businessman to extort money. However, they were acquitted in 2016 due to lack of evidence.