Officials of the Meerut Development Authority (MDA), on Tuesday, sealed a portion and some machines of Al-Faheem Meatex Pvt Ltd, the meat factory of BSP leader, former MP, and the current candidate of the SP-BSP alliance for Meerut Lok Sabha seat, Yakoob Qureshi.

Al-Faheem Meatex Pvt Ltd exports frozen meat to different countries in the Middle East.

SP (Rural), Rajesh Kumar, said that a team of MDA officials and district administration sealed the machines and a part of the factory in the presence of heavy police force on Tuesday morning.

Yakoob Qureshi had organised a convention of party workers at the factory. In view of this, there were very strong chances of a confrontation between the MDA officials and BSP workers. But the situation remained under control as after minor objections at the factory gate, the team managed to enter the premises under the watchful eyes of the police force which was present in a large number.

MDA had issued a notice to the factory for allegedly altering the construction from the approved layout. The officials had announced that they would seal the allegedly encroached portion of the factory unit on February 12 and arrived there with a heavy force.

Yaqoob Qureshi’s son, and director of the factory, Imran Qureshi, termed the whole exercise as politically motivated. He said that that they had deposited Rs 25 lakh for compounding proceedings but the officials didn’t accept it.

He further said that the factory was constructed in 1996 and MDA extended its jurisdiction only after that hence the clause of MDA is not applicable on the disputed property. “The MDA is doing it only under the influence of Lucknow,” he quipped, a purported reference to the state government.

The MDA officials refuted the charge, saying that the process of sealing was carried out in compliance of the order of the court.

Meanwhile, Imran said the factory will not function till Allahabad High Court decides on their petition in this regard. According to him, the factory provides employment to over 2000 people and pays approximately Rs 6 crore annual GST.