Rs 1.5cr property of jailed gangster Kuntu Singh forfeited in Azamgarh

Varanasi: Taking action under the Gangsters Act, Azamgarh police on Monday attached a building worth Rs 1.5 crore belonging to jailed gangster Dhruv Singh alias Kuntu Singh in the Chhapra Sultanpur area.

Azamgarh SP Anil Kumar said the district police have been carrying out a sustained drive to dismantle the economic network of mafia elements and gangsters built through illegally earned money. Under the campaign, movable and immovable properties worth around Rs 21 crore have already been seized in the district, he added.

The SP said police recently identified a building, popularly known as ‘Badi Haveli’, which was allegedly reconstructed using illegal earnings. Investigations were conducted by the departments concerned and a report was submitted to the district magistrate.

After the district magistrate issued orders for the attachment of the building, a police team led by CO (City) Shubham Todi reached the Chhapra Sultanpur area and completed the formalities.

Officials said the investigation revealed that the building had allegedly become a hub for criminals and members of Kuntu Singh’s gang, where extortion money was distributed and criminal conspiracies were planned.

Leader of Gang inter range (IR)-36, Kuntu has 78 criminal cases registered against him, officials said, adding that he, along with his gang members, has accumulated illegal wealth through murder, robbery, dacoity, extortion, fraud and other organized crimes. The gang carried out extensive illegal renovation and construction work on an approximately 23-year-old building in Chhapra Sultanpur using illicit funds.