New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Police made a significant breakthrough as they arrested Vijay Mishra, the lawyer of Atiq Ahmed, from a prominent hotel in Lucknow on Sunday. Mishra’s arrest came as he was allegedly orchestrating an illegal property deal involving Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf with a Nepalese mafia member.

The deal’s intricate plan, however, came crashing down as the mafia member failed to appear due to increased scrutiny at the Nepal border, leaving Mishra waiting for five days in vain.

A deceptive deal foiled

Vijay Mishra’s intentions to finalize the property deal were thwarted as the vigilant Seema Haider played a crucial role in its disruption. Strict border checks by the local police and the Border Security Force (SSB) in Nepal deterred the mafia member from crossing the border, leaving Mishra and his illegal deal in disarray.

Vijay Mishra’s confession

During the police interrogation, Mishra disclosed that he had been staying in Lucknow to facilitate the deal. However, the elusive mafia member persistently evaded meeting Mishra, citing the stringent border checks as the reason for his absence.

Financial motive behind the deal

Mishra further revealed that Atiq Ahmed’s wife, Shahista, and Ashraf’s wife, Zainab, were in dire need of funds to secure the release of their imprisoned sons, Ali and Umar, held in jails in Lucknow and Prayagraj. The responsibility to arrange funds for the release was entrusted to Mishra, leading to his involvement in the property deal.

The wanted list

The deal’s complexity involved the inclusion of Zainab, Vijay Mishra, and the Nepalese mafia in the wanted list. Additionally, the mafia demanded the presence of either Zainab or Shahista in the meeting as a condition for proceeding further. Notably, both Zainab and Shahista have been evading authorities since the Umesh Pal murder case, and the police have offered a reward for any information leading to their arrest.

A shattered web of illicit properties

Following the murder of Umesh Pal, numerous properties belonging to Atiq and Ashraf were seized, and investigations into illegal benami properties continue. The fear of legal repercussions has deterred any potential buyers or businessmen from engaging in any deals related to Atiq and Ashraf’s properties, prompting Mishra’s resort to the Nepalese mafia.

The ongoing police interrogation of Vijay Mishra continues to unravel shocking revelations related to the case.