Uttar Pradesh: Builder Haji Wasi arrested for financing riot accused in Kanpur

KANPUR: The Kanpur police late Monday night arrested builder Haji Wasi, accused in the June 3 violence in the city over former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma's remarks against the Prophet.
Wasi, against whom police had procured non-bailable warrant (NBW), is accused of funding Hayat Zafar Hashmi, the main accused of the June 3 violence that erupted after Friday prayers following a call to close down the shops to protest against Sharma's remarks, at the Parade and its adjoining areas, including Nai Sadak.
“During the investigation, we came to know about Haji Wasi’s involvement in the June 3 violence. Subsequently, an FIR was registered against him at the Beconganj police station, since then we were looking for him, and also procured NBW against him from court. Police teams were searching for him in Delhi, Lucknow and Kanpur. We arrested Haji Wasi near Amausi Airport, from where he was about to take a flight out of Lucknow,” said joint commissioner of police Anand Prakash Tewari.
“He was produced before the court and sent to jail in judicial custody,” he added. The Kanpur administration had demolished one of the buildings of Haji Wasi after the violence.
As per police, Mukhtar Baba, the owner of Baba Biryani, and Hayat Zafar were the main conspirators of June 3 violence. Haji Wasi is accused of financing the two. During investigation, it also came to fore that Haji Wasi’s family members were also involved in the conspiracy behind the violence. His son Abdul Rahman and many other relatives had supported Haji in instigating the violence.
Abdul Rahman was arrested by the Kanpur police on June 3. According to police, Rahman is the one who looks after all the bank accounts, properties and business of his father.