Police attach land shark’s 6 properties worth ₹15 crore

KANPUR: The police have attached six properties worth Rs 15 crore of a jailed land mafioso by invoking a provision of the Gangster’s Act, senior superintendent of police, Kanpur, Anant Dev said on Monday.

This was the first time such action was taken in Kanpur.

Asif alias Pappu Smart, whose properties were attached in Jajmau and the adjoining villages, is currently lodged in Kanpur jail.

Dev also said this was the first in a series of property attachments of land mafiosi. The police will soon attach the properties of 10 more land mafiosi as a part of the ongoing drive, he said.

“We have invoked Section 14(1) of the Gangster’s Act that allows the police to attach properties. The police investigated the land mafia first and established the properties they made by ill-gotten wealth,” he said.

The station house officer of Harbans Mohal police station had conducted an investigation into purchase of properties and detected the money trail, suggesting the Asif and members of his gang invested money earned through criminal activities, police said in a statement.

The case was put before district magistrate Vijay Vishwas Pant, who ordered property attachment.

Heavy police contingent led by ASP (Cantt) Avinash Pandey was present at the time of the property attachment.

Dev said the police were preparing a list of land mafia and accomplices helping them with finances and muscle power.