EOW issues fresh summons to Salar Jung kin, Sena MP’s driver in Rs150 crore land gift case

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The economic offences wing of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city police on Friday issued fresh summons to the descendants of the Salar Jung family from Hyderabad and Jawed Rasul Shaikh, driver of Shiv Sena MP Sandipan Bhumre and his MLA son Vilas. Police are probing the legality of a gift deed or hibanama under which the Jung family transferred a three-acre plot valued at more than Rs150 crore in the driver's name.Mir Mehmud Ali Khan, one of the descendants of Salar Jung, and his kin, along with Shaikh, failed to respond to the earlier summons. "After they did not turn up to record their statements the first time, fresh notices have been issued asking them to remain present before EOW," EOW inspector Sambhaji Pawar said.On Thursday, Vilas Bhumre, MLA from Paithan, distanced himself and his father from the transaction. "Though Jawed is our driver, we are in no way connected to the land deal," he said, adding that he was also questioned by EOW in this case.The land in question, located in Dawoodpura on Jalna Road, is part of a 12-acre parcel claimed by the Salar Jung family. According to the gift deed, 12,438.2 square metres (around three acres) were transferred to Jawed after a 2023 revenue department ruling upheld the family's claim to the land following a prolonged legal battle.The inquiry was initiated after a police complaint by Parbhani-based lawyer Mujahid Khan, who raised questions about the propriety of such a high-value land gift to a driver, unrelated by blood and belonging to a different sect of Islam. As per Islamic law, hibanamas or gift deeds are generally considered valid among blood relatives.Jawed, who has been working with the Bhumre family for more than a decade, earlier told TOI that he shared good relations with the Salar Jung family and received the land as a gift.EOW continues to scrutinise the documents submitted by the complainant and is awaiting the appearance of all parties concerned for ascertaining facts.