Prayagraj: Cracking down on assets linked to slain mafia don Atiq Ahmed, his brother Ashraf alias Khalid Azim and wife Shaista Parveen, the district administration has seized 18 movable and immovable properties worth nearly Rs 345 crore under the provisions of the Gangster’s Act.The seized assets include houses, commercial and residential plots, agricultural land, bank deposits and a vehicle spread across Prayagraj, Kaushambi and Lucknow.To ensure the protection, upkeep and monitoring of the seized properties, the administration has constituted a committee headed by chief development officer Harshika Singh. The committee comprise secretary Prayagaraj Development Authority (PDA), Vineet Singh, additional district magistrates (finance and revenue) and additional district magistrate (Nazul), besides officials from other departments concerned.Officials said properties covered by the action are located in several parts of Prayagraj, including Chakia, Kareli, Jhunsi, Dhoomanganj, Kasari-Masari, Devghat, Saryan, Rahimabad, Akbarpur Mirzapur and Holagarh. Immovable properties in Kaushambi and Lucknow’s Gomti Nagar and Sheikhpur areas have also been seized.The administration has frozen deposits held in 13 accounts in different banks. Records show that several houses, commercial plots, agricultural land and bank accounts were registered in Atiq Ahmed’s name. Properties registered in the name of his wife Shaista Parveen were also brought under the seizure proceedings. A vehicle registered in the name of Ashraf alias Khalid Azim has also been seized.Among the properties identified during the investigation, agricultural land belonging to Atiq Ahmed in Holagarh has emerged as the most valuable asset. According to official records, the estimated market value of the agricultural land in Holagarh is Rs 123.28 crore, making it the costliest property on the list.Other high-value properties include assets in the Rahimabad-Akbarpur area, estimated at around Rs 76 crore, agricultural land in Kaushambi valued at Rs 24 crore and land in Sheikhpur, Lucknow, estimated at Rs 30.60 crore. Several other houses and plots have been valued between Rs 4 crore and Rs 10 crore.District magistrate Manish Kumar Verma said the committee would ensure the preservation and regular inspection of the seized assets and take necessary administrative measures. The committee will also monitor the properties to prevent encroachment or any unauthorised activity.Officials said the investigation agencies are examining the ownership details, sources of funds used for acquiring the properties and related documents. Further action will be taken on the basis of the findings of the ongoing investigation.
