The complex worth Rs 20 crore was being built in partnership with Ayesha Khatoon and Farid Ahmed in the Bakarganj area of the historic city
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Certain remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi have cost a Muslim leader of the Samajwadi Party (SP) dearly; his under-construction three-storey shopping complex in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur has become a victim of the marauding bulldozers.
Haji Raza’s complex worth Rs 20 crore was being built in partnership with Ayesha Khatoon and Farid Ahmed in the Bakarganj area of the historic city. The authorities alleged that the complex was being built without any approved map.
On Tuesday, authorities descended on the scene with a heavy police force and bulldozers to demolish the huge building. It took two days to raze it to the ground.
Addressing the media, a police officer called Raza a “gangster” and said there were several cases against him. He said that the police are conducting an investigation into all his properties and will take more such action against him.
The officer also said that the complex was demolished under Section 10 of the Uttar Pradesh (Regulations of Building Operations) 1958 Act.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have been after Haji Raza, the former chairman of Nagarpalika, after he made mocking remarks against Prime Minister Modi at an event held in June this year to welcome newly-elected Samajwadi MP Naresh Uttam Patel.
“When our MP will roar like a lion in the parliament, Modi will pee. We need people who can speak up and put out grievances there,” Haji Raza was reported to have said at the event.
After the video of the remarks went viral, the Fatehpur Police filed an FIR against Raza on a complaint filed by a BJP leader. He was booked under IPC Sections 153 A, 505/2, 294 and 188. The police also conducted raids to arrest him.
