Saharanpur : ED has seized Glocal University of BSP former MLC Haji Iqbal, who in involved in illegal mining and many controversies. Iqbal's name was popular in Uttar Pradesh during Mayawati's rule between 2007 and 2012. Even ministers and MLAs were next only to him. By creating fear among the people, he built Global University on 121 acres in Mirzapur area.
To build this university, Iqbal even encroached upon seasonal rivers. The cost of this university now comes to around Rs 4,440 crore. Along with illegal mining, Haji Iqbal alias Bala was also filling his coffers through money laundering. Apart from BSP, he also had influence in SP government. He was considered the biggest mining mafia of western UP. Despite knowing everything, governments kept avoiding taking action against him. Due to this, his status kept increasing continuously.
Iqbal bought a sugar mill at a very low price during the BSP government. The case happened between 2010 and 2011. Nearly 11 sugar mills were sold at very low prices. Due to this, the state and central governments suffered a loss of more than one thousand crores. He was also running many sugar mills in Saharanpur. He earned billions from this too. His bad days started in the year 2017. The police started tightening the noose around Iqbal, his younger brother Mahmood Ali, four sons and relatives.
Apart from illegal mining, money laundering and land grabbing, he was also charged with serious charges like rape. One after the other, the burden of cases on him kept increasing. Currently, there are about 40 cases registered against him. The police had recorded him as a gang leader in their crime file. The police arrested Mahmud Ali, his four sons and some relatives, but Iqbal could not be caught by the police till date.
In the year 2022, Saharanpur Police had confiscated Iqbal's property worth about Rs 107 crore under the Gangster Act. Their estimated value was Rs 36.40 crore. CM Yogi had recommended a CBI inquiry into the entire matter to the central government. After this, the CBI also registered a case and started investigation. Later, ED registered a case of money laundering against Iqbal.
In the year 2021, ED (Enforcement Directorate) also took action against Haji Iqbal in the sugar mill scam. During that time also, property worth more than Rs. 1,000 crores was confiscated. Apart from Namrata Marketing Pvt. Ltd., Girish Company was under the control of Iqbal. He had acquired sugar mills through various shell companies. Apart from Haji Iqbal, his family members also participated in the bid.