[ad_1]
By Arvind Ojha: Gangster-politician Artiq Ahmed fearlessly ran his crime syndicate using a mobile phone from inside Sabarmati Jail. India Today has accessed Whatsapp and audio messages which reveal Atiq Ahmed’s free run from inside prison.
Atiq Ahmed was shot dead at point-blank range by three people in Prayagraj on Saturday. Atiq’s brother Ashraf was also killed on the spot.
The messages show how Atiq operated from jail. In January, Atiq Ahmed threatened a builder, Mohammad Muslim, and demanded Rs 5 crore from him. The builder ended up paying Rs 80 lakhs to Atiq Ahmed’s son Asad.
Asad, along with an aide, was killed in a police encounter in Jhansi on Thursday.
It is being said that the Rs 80 lakh was used to plan Umesh Pal’s murder, which took place in February.
ATIQ AND HIS PINK SLIPS
Apart from this, it has also come to the fore that Atiq Ahmed always used to charge ‘gunda tax’ from big builders and businessmen to contest elections. Two types of slips were issued to the businessmen and builders who used to pay the ‘gunda tax’ to him.
Those who paid between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh were issued pink slips while those who coughed up over Rs 5 lakh were given white slips.
HOW ATIQ THREATENED BUILDER
As per sources, Atiq Ahmed’s son Asad had first called Mohammad Muslim on January 9 but the builder did not receive the call.
ALSO READ | Encounter fake, BJP doesn’t believe in court: Akhilesh Yadav on killing of Atiq Ahmed’s son Asad
Later, Atiq Ahmed sent a threat message to Mohammad Muslim.
“I am telling you for the last time, you are playing ED-ED with my son. The ED (Enforcement Directorate) has not seized your money yet, it is better that our son Umar has his account. And the money given to Asad, we need it for the election so we don’t have any enmity with you..,” read the threat message.
Atiq Ahmed further told the builder, “You have earned your house with luck and intelligence, but give us the money… It will be of great use to us at this time… Understand more in less words… I am not going to die, inshaAllah…it is better that you meet us.”
EXTORTED MONEY USED IN UMESH PAL MURDER
According to sources, the builder used to live in Prayagraj but out of Atiq’s fear, he left for Lucknow in 2007. Atiq Ahmed had been harassing Mohammad Muslim since January this year for money.
After receiving Atiq Ahmed’s threat message, Mohammad Muslim paid Rs 80 lakh to Asad, which was used to pay the shooters and arrange for the weapon used in the Umesh Pal murder case. In fact, the gun with which the accused, Sabir, shot Umesh Pal outside his residence in Prayagraj in February belonged to Atiq Ahmed.
These revelations came even as a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the murder of Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf, who were shot dead while they were being escorted by the police after undergoing medical tests.
The SIT team has taken a copy of the FIR from Shahganj police station and has also got hold of the CCTV cameras and DVRs installed in Colvin Hospital and nearby houses. The SIT will be recording the statements of the police personnel who were taking Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf to court on the day they were shot dead.
[ad_2]
