Mumbai : Even before the funeral of the 52nd spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community commenced on Saturday, his brother released a statement claiming he is the true successor of the Syedna, and not the late Syedna’s second son.

On Friday, after Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin breathed his last, a statement from his family said that his second son, Syed Muffadal Saifuddin, would now lead the community as he had been pronounced successor two years earlier in London.

However, early Saturday morning, Syedna’s bother, Mazoon Khuzaima Qutbuddin TUS, who till now was second-incommand, said that he was the true successor of the community, and pronounced himself as the Syedna at a gathering in Thane.

“Aqamola (Syedna) performed Nass (pronounced) on him 50 years ago in private, when he appointed him Mazoon (second-in-command) in 1965 saying: ‘Maara pachhi bhai Dai chho’ (you will be my successor), and he instructed him not to reveal this until the appropriate time. Syedna Khuzaima Qutbuddin is Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin’s true Mansoos (successor) and now the 53rd Dai (leader),” the statement on the office website read.

While the spiritual leader’s family did not respond in spite of several emails, calls and texts, Abdeali Qutbuddin, the Mazoon’s son, said he was saddened by what his cousins have done to his father.

“I pay my respects to Syedna who has expired, but at the same time, need to mention that he was a messiah of progressiveness but since his son has taken over three years ago the community has become regressive. They want girls to be housewives and stay at home. My father, on the other hand, wants to bring the true identity of the community back. The Syedna’s sons have taken advantage of a stroke the Syedna suffered in London few years ago,” he said.