Mumbai, May 7: Maharashtra state Waqf board has filed a contempt petition against the Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Secretary Johnny Joseph and Deputy Secretary Avinash Hazare for shunting out its CEO Abdul Rauf Shaikh before Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court.

Shaikh was in the news when, as a CEO of MSWB, had started the proceedings of restoring the Waqf properties which had been sold or transferred illegally.

Especially, his action for restoration of Altamount road property, which has been bought by industrialist Mukesh Ambani proved controversial.

High court later stayed the restoration proceedings in this case.

Shaikh was repatriated (transferred back) to his original department, rural development department a few days ago.

The contempt petition, filed by state Waqf board`s member advocate AU Pathan, says that since another case, where Shaikh`s appointment as the CEO of the board has been challenged, was pending before the high court, Shaikh should not have been repatriated during the pendency of the case.

"Shaikh is an upright officer. Earlier all the reports regarding him were favourable. How did the government suddenly change its mind?" Pathan, who is also an elected member of Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa said while talking to Agencies.

The contempt petition is likely to come up for hearing after the summer vacation.