Bequeathing land by smuggler declared void

Mandsaur, MP, Oct 7 (UNI) A local court has declared as void the attempt by a narcotic smuggler to bequeath his immovable property worth several crores of rupees to his relatives.

In 1998, a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) court had convicted Mohammed Shafi and his son Mohammed Shakir for drug peddling and declared them absconders.

The court had ordered impounding and auction of their seven-acre land and building on it.

However, the accused bequeathed their property to their relatives on previous date through 'Hibanama' and revenue department made changes in official records about the transfer of the property.

In his judgement on October 4, Additional District and Sessions Judge Ramnarayan Choudhary justified the impounding and auction of Mohammed Shafi's property and declared the 'Hibanama' as void.

Source said as per Muslim Law, under the 'Hibanama', a Muslim can donate his property to somebody in presence of two witnesses and no written document was necessary.

UNI XC-PS SP 1722