BSP ex-MLC Mohammad Iqbal under lens for Rs 10,000 crore scam

LUCKNOW: Former BSP member of legislative council (MLC) Mohammad Iqbal, who is facing an Enforcement Directorate probe for allegedly amassing unaccounted wealth to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore, had declared assets worth Rs 6.5 crore in his election affidavit six years ago. Iqbal, a Class VIII passout nominated to UP's upper House in 2010, does not have any criminal case or FIR against him.
According to the 2010 affidavit, Iqbal's assets included Rs 12.50 lakh in cash, Rs 1.32 crore in bank deposits and other financial institutions, Rs 26.5 lakh invested in bonds and shares, and a Rs 28.6-lakh life insurance policy. He also declared jewellery worth Rs 2.04 lakh, besides significant movable assets owned by his wife, Farida Begum, and kin. Iqbal had also declared agricultural plots totalling six hectares in Mirzapur, Gaglahedi and Ali Akbarpur in Saharanpur worth around Rs 41.54 lakh.



The BSP member also owns non-agricultural land in Mawikala and a house in New Bhagat Singh colony worth over Rs 90 lakh and Rs 65.64 lakh, respectively. The affidavit, however, does not reveal the area of the land or the house. The 45-year-old former MLC also owns luxury cars like Mitsubishi Montero and Mercedes GLS, according to the affidavit.