Former Samajwadi Party MLA Khalid Azim arrested in UP's Prayagraj

PRAYAGRAJ: In a major breakthrough, a joint police team of crime branch, Shahganj, Dhoomangnaj and Khuldabad police on Friday arrested former Samajwadi Party MLA, Khalid Azim alias Ashraf from Shivala Market area of Prayagraj.
The police have also seized an illegal pistol of 0.32 bore along with six live cartridges, a SUV, Rs 8,490 cash and two EPIC, PAN card and Driving License from his possession.
The arrested ex-MLA is the brother of mafia turned politician Atiq Ahmad.
ADG ( Prayagraj zone) Prem Prakash told TOI that “Acting upon a specific tip off that the absconding ex-MLA Khalid Azim alias Ashraf was to arrive his in-law’s house at Hatwa village under the limits of Puramufti police station of Kaushambi district, a joint team of crime branch, Khuldabad, Dhoomanganj and Shahganj corroded the area and later came to know that the ex-MLA had come to in-laws’s house on Thursday night and moved to one of relative’s house in connection with a land deal at Shiva Market area falling under the jurisdiction of Dhoomanganj police station of Prayagraj district on Friday morning”.
ADG further claimed “ The joint police team has manged to catch the ex-MLA while making an abortive attempt to escape from the relative’s back portion of the house”.
ADG also said that ex-MLA Khalid Azim alias Ashraf, wanted by police in connection with several criminal cases, was also carrying Rs one lakh cash prize on his head. He was evading arrest for the past three years.
IG ( Prayagraj range) K P Singh told TOI that Khalid Azim was currently wanted by police in connection with four criminal cases registered with Dhoomanganj police station under different sections”.
IG further claimed that a total of 33 criminal cases were registered against ex-MLA with different police stations of the city and other districts that included extortion, land grabbing, and possession of illegal weapons.
The CBI had also issued a warrant against ex-MLA Khalid Azim alias Ashraf in connection with BSP MLA killing case, said the IG.
SSP, Prayagraj, Abhishek Dixit said: “The police had launched a special operation in search of the ex-MLA Khalid Azim alias Ashraf last month and was conducting a series of raids at his suspect hideouts in Khuldabad, Dhoomanganj , Kareli, and neighbouring Hatwa village in Kaushambi district.
He added that police have also compiled information about other accomplices of Khalid Azim.
SSP also claimed that the ex-MLA had taken shelter at his in-laws’ house in Hatwa (Kaushambi) and Delhi.
The first case against Khalid Azim alias Ashraf was registered with Mutthiganj police station under section 147,148,149,364, 504 and 506 of IPC and 7 CLA act in 1992. Later, cases against Ashraf were registered in year 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2007 in different districts of UP.
The police started tightening the noose around the ex-MLA soon after the change in guard and lodged first case against Ashraf with Dhoomanganj police station for not depositing licensed firearm.
The district police had too moved a file to state authorities to increase cash prize on the head of the absconding ex-MLA from Rs one lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh.