New Delhi, 5 October 2023: Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan, known as Raja of Mahmudabad, passed away on late Tuesday night after prolonged illness. He was 80. He was laid to rest in the Karbala in Mahmudabad at 4.30 pm Wednesday. He was MLA from the Mahmudabad assembly constituency from 1985 to 1989.
Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, BJP MLA from Mahmudabad Asha Maurya and other senior leaders expressed grief over the demise of Raja Mahmudabad and paid tributes to him. Akhilesh Yadav said on X, “The demise of Raja Mahmudabad Janab Mohammad Ameer Mohammad Khan Sahab is very sad! May God give peace to the departed soul. May all the family members have the strength to bear this immense sorrow in this hour of grief.”
Half of Hazratganj in Lucknow is said to be under the jurisdiction of Raja Mahmudabad even today. Not only this, Raja Mahmudabad and his family also have huge properties in Iraq, Pakistan and other countries. In Uttarakhand too, his 396 properties have been valued. According to a government assessment in October 2006, the value of his assets was around Rs 50,000 crore. He had challenged in the Supreme Court the Enemy Property Ordinance 2016 to amend the Enemy Property Act 1968.
He also challenged the ordinance brought on the same Act in 2010, which is also being heard in the Supreme Court. Under the 2010 ordinance, all enemy properties were handed over to the custodian.
In his condolence message, Syed Sadatullah Husaini, President of Jamaat-e-Islami said, “We pay our heartfelt condolences on the passing of the last Raja (King) of Mahmudabad, Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan (1943-2023). Mahmudabad estate was part of the Awadh dynasty, its historical legacy starting from the early 14th century. We pray to Almighty Allah for granting forgiveness and salvation to the departed soul and mourn his loss on behalf of the community and the nation.”
We pray to Almighty Allah for granting forgiveness and salvation to the departed soul and mourn his loss on behalf of the community and the nation. pic.twitter.com/Bc21PXB0YM
— Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (@JIHMarkaz) October 4, 2023
During his last interview with Radiance Viewsweekly in 2022, Raja of Mahmudabad said, “The Govt should Amend Enemy Property Act Suitably.”
Cambridge-educated Raja Mahmudabad also said, “I am very grateful to many. Like Jamaat-e-Islami Hind very fearlessly and very courageously supported me. So did All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat. Many members of Parliament, both Hindus and Muslims, people from the legislators, religious scholars both Shia and Sunni all have been very helpful. I am also thankful to lawyers of all ranks and files and all those who believe in justice and equality without any prejudices.”
He also said, “I don’t think that anyone can intervene in my matter. The only group of people who can take a just view or fair view of the whole matter is the Government of India. The Government should withdraw this order or amend it suitably so the rights of Indian citizens and especially in relation to the matter of succession in enemy property are not encroached upon. The most important thing is that they are not debarred from going to the court and I can get my matter solved in the Supreme Court in no time at all. So, it is the judiciary but of course, if the government decides to withdraw this order or amend it suitably as I have mentioned, the details can be provided. In fact, what they have actually done is to rewrite the Act of 1968. It’s not an amendment; it is rewriting of the Act on the pretext of amending the Act.”
