‘Misuse of power’: Two FIRs against former DM of Moradabad, seven others

Saghir, who is presently special secretary in the minor irrigation department, was Moradabad DM in 2016-17. Other accused are former additional district magistrate of Moradabad Arun Kumar Srivastava (now retired), tehsildar Sanjay Kumar, revenue inspector Parvez Khan, revenue clerk Subhash Chandra and three others, said a police officer.

Both FIRs — one at Civil Lines and the other at Mundapandey police station — were registered Monday, on the basis of a complaint by Pramod Sharma, inspector, state vigilance department. No arrests have been made so far.

“On the direction of the state government, the vigilance department was conducting an inquiry on a complaint filed by a local resident of Moradabad. After completion of inquiry, the department sent its report to the government around two months back. On the direction of the government, the department got a case registered yesterday,” said a police officer.

Station House Officer (SHO) of Civil Lines police station, Ajay Kumar Gautam said, “The complaint was filed by the vigilance department against eight persons including Zuhair Bin Saghir and others on charges of transferring Waqf land without obtaining permission from concerned authorities. The land was transferred to facilitate for construction of prison.”

The FIR was lodged under IPC sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent) and the Prevention of Corruption Act.  SHO of Mundapandey police station Sudhir Pal Dhama said, “An FIR against eight persons including Zuhair Bin Saghir has been registered for releasing urban ceiling land under IPC sections 120B, 409 and Prevention of Corruption Act.”