In Bareilly, five associates of the controversial cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza have received recovery notices exceeding Rs 1.25 crore for alleged power theft at e-charging stations, as reported by officials on Monday. A joint team conducted raids in the Baan Khana area last week and discovered five e-charging centres operating using stolen electricity. An FIR has been filed, leading to recovery notices issued against the five accused. Officials indicated that this is not the first occurrence in the area; a similar raid conducted about a year prior also revealed four illegal charging units operated by the same individuals. Following further investigations, recovery certificates (RCs) totaling over Rs 1.25 crore have now been issued against the five accused parties.
The district administration has mandated strict recovery actions. Chief Engineer (Zone I) Gyan Prakash stated that recovery certificates are being distributed to defaulters who have not settled penalties for power theft. “In the initial phase, RCs have been issued to those with fines exceeding Rs 10 lakh. This list includes five individuals from Baan Khana,” he noted. According to departmental records, Wasim Khan owes Rs 15.39 lakh, Monish Khan Rs 22.29 lakh, Barkaan Raza Khan Rs 37.32 lakh, Aman Raza Khan Rs 26.92 lakh, and Ghulam Navi Rs 26.57 lakh, all reported to be closely associated with Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC) chief Tauqueer Raza Khan.
Officials also mentioned that in January 2024, a raid near Raza Chowk drain in Baan Khana resulted in the confiscation of illegal e-charging centres utilizing stolen electricity, with these same five individuals previously booked and fined at that time. Describing the recent case as “serious,” Prakash stated that a three-member committee has been established to investigate any potential involvement of power department personnel, with actions to be taken against any official found complicit. Bareilly Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue) Santosh Kumar Singh emphasized that strict recovery efforts will commence immediately upon receipt of the RCs.
In a related development, another aide of the cleric was arrested on Sunday in connection with the violence that occurred on September 6, as authorities intensified actions against those involved, including the demolition of their “illegal” properties. The Bareilly Development Authority (BDA) completed the demolition of a banquet hall owned by Nafees, another aide of Raza Khan, on Sunday. This two-day operation, conducted under tight security, left no remnants of the ‘Raza Palace,’ which officials confirmed had been illegally constructed on Waqf land. The clashes had erupted following protests against FIRs related to “I Love Muhammad” posters, leading to confrontations with police after Friday prayers that resulted in multiple injuries.
To date, police have filed 10 FIRs and arrested over 70 individuals, including Maulana Tauqeer Raza, his aides, and several relatives.