Cops looking for SP MLA’s brother in ‘extortion’ case

The Moradabad police is looking for Samajwadi Party MLA Haji Yusuf Ansari's younger brother Haji Islam Ansari, who allegedly tried to extort money from a local kerosene depot holder, and also bullied officials when they conducted an inspection and found that the depot holder was doing nothing wrong. On Sunday, the police raided the MLA's residence in search of his brother.

A crowd of the MLA's supporters gathered in no time, shouted slogans against the police, and also blocked roads at Indra Chowk and Kohinoor crossing. The blockade was lifted after a police team arrived and assured them of a fair investigation.

Moradabad Superintendent of Police Vijay Singh Meena said that Haji Islam was wanted in two cases. While one case was lodged by kerosene depot owner Mohammad Hussain Sabeer's wife Shakeela Bano, the other was lodged on the complaint of officials of the Weights and Measures Department.

In the first case, Haji Islam and his associates face charges of rioting with deadly weapons, extortion and criminal intimidation. In the second case, they are accused of using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty.

The MLA, however, claimed that his younger brother had been falsely implicated. "He had gone to the kerosene depot after getting information about malpractices. My brother actually caught them indulging in malpractices but the accused, who are big persons, made false allegations and got him booked," he alleged.

Haji Yusuf said that the police, while searching his residence, misbehaved with children and women. "I will complain about this to the Chief Minister and request for action against the policemen. I am also considering legal action against the cops," he said.

According to Shakeela Bano, who lodged the FIR on Friday at Katghar police station, a police gunner and about 10 unidentified persons accompanied the MLA's brother when he came to her depot in Pandit Nagla locality and acccused her of malpractices, including short-measuring of kerosene. The gunner, who was in the security of the MLA, has since been removed and sent to Police Lines.

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