NEW DELHI: Ongoing investigation into the illegal conversion racket being run by Maulana Umar Gautam and Maulana Kaleem Siddique has led to the arrest of Maulana Umar’s son, Abdullah by the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh Police.
It is said that Abdullah was allegedly a part of a well-heeled conversion racket, being funded by the notorious Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan. For the same, Abdullah has allegedly received Rs 75 lakh directly in his bank accounts. Additionally, during the interrogation, Abdullah was unable to give satisfactory answers to justify Rs 57 crore that was found in his possession. Also Read & Watch: 124 Member Strong New-Look BJP National Executive Team Meets Up In Delhi
The ATS of Uttar Pradesh Police has alleged that Abdullah was funding the converts. He was said to be in direct contact with conduits identified as Jahangir Alam, Kausar. Abdullah apparently looked after Maulana Umar Gautam’s Al Farooqi Madrasa and Mosque and Islamic Dawa Center. Abdullah has been arrested by UP ATS from Gautam Buddh Nagar.
He was reportedly interrogated at length about the source of illegally gotten funds and was arrested after he failed to provide satisfactory answers for his involvement into the conversion racket.
A senior officer of ATS told The New Indian that investigations by the UP ATS has revealed that Abdullah received Rs 75 Lakh from foreign countries and was using the said amount for converting people to Islam. His father Maulana Umar Gautam who was arrested earlier by the UP ATS had also received huge amounts of money from dubious sources based abroad.
Maulana Umar and Kaleem Siddique of Zakat Foundation are said to be involved in systematic conversion of people especially vulnerable Hindus to Islam. ATS has arrested over 20 people who were part of this well organised racket. Those arrested include Maulana Umar Gautam, his son Abdullah, Maulana Kalim Siddiqui, Rameshwaram Kawade alias Adam alias Adam, Bhupriya Bandon alias Arslan Mustafa, Kaushar Alam, Hafiz Idris.
Investigators said that foreign funding of 57 crores to Umar Gautam and his associates has been done through hawala and other means.
It may be recalled that UP ATS had busted a pan India conversion racket on June 21, 2021. Investigations have further revealed the modus operandi of the people involved in this illegal racket. The accused targeted young boys and girls from the upper caste Hindus. Maulana Umar and Kaleem Siddique were allegedly running 60 centers across the country. They were especially targeting vulnerable people from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.
ATS claimed that Maulana Umar has confessed during interrogation that he has base in Rajasthan and Maharashtra and had converted scores of people to Islam. Maulana Umar and Mufti Jehangir Qasmi are said to have forcibly converted over 350 people and set up the target of converting over 1000 people. ATS officials hinted at more arrests as investigation was going on. Abdullah has named certain people who were part of the racket, they shared. Also Read & Watch: Former PM Deve Gowda “Deeply Moved” By Unveiling Of Statue By PM Modi At Kedarnath