The Waqf Board has called a “special meeting” on April 10 to draw up a list of its “high-priced” properties about which there are allegations of sale and financial impropriety.

The move followed the “discovery” of a letter from the CBI that has apparently been gathering dust at the board’s Madan Street office since January 17.

The list will be passed on to the CBI, which has been asked to probe allegations of sale of Waqf properties (no property in the board’s custody can be sold) and embezzlement of money earned from leasing out some of the premises.

“The board members will meet on April 10. The agenda is to draw up a list of 10 to 20 Waqf properties, regarding which there are several allegations…. This is the first step. We will keep passing on to the investigating agencies information on other properties as well,” said Abdul Gani, the chairman of the Waqf Board and a former justice of Calcutta High Court.

Asked about the delay in responding to the CBI letter, the newly elected chairman said the members of the board learnt about the missive only recently.

Board officials said the letter asking for details of “high-priced” Waqf premises that have changed hands over the past few years had been brought to the chairman’s notice on March 28.

There has been a long-standing demand for a CBI probe into various Waqf properties. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had in September said she would request the Centre to order a CBI inquiry.

“The new board has met thrice. Had we known about the CBI’s letter we would have made much progress till now,” said M. Nuruzzaman, a member of the board and a Trinamul Congress MLA.

“There are several allegations of financial irregularities related to Waqf properties. The charges need to be thoroughly investigated by a neutral body. There is a possibility of some employees trying to stall the probe as it could expose them and their former bosses,” said Maulana Noor-ur-Rahman Barkati, the Shahi Imam of the Tipu Sultan Mosque.