MP CM's family land deals spark resignation calls amid probe demands

An extensive investigation by The Indian Express has brought forth allegations of significant land acquisitions by the family of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in Ujjain, with the purchases reportedly coinciding with government infrastructure development projects. The report claims that since December 2023, when Mohan Yadav assumed office as Chief Minister, his family and their associated real estate firms have acquired at least 137 plots totaling 168 acres for approximately ₹45 crore. A substantial portion of this land, approximately 111 acres, is situated in areas that are expected to benefit from road projects and land-use changes announced by the state government. This timing and location have raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest and impropriety. The Ujjain Master Plan 2035, released in May 2023, designated several areas for residential and commercial development, and the Yadav family's landholdings reportedly overlap with these zones. Further investigation suggests that before Mohan Yadav became Chief Minister, his family already held considerable land. Between 2021 and 2023, when he served as the Education Minister, his family reportedly acquired at least 85 acres. Since he took office as Chief Minister, this land bank has reportedly expanded to 335 acres, more than doubling from pre-CM tenure holdings. In response to these allegations, the Congress party has launched a strong offensive, demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and calling for an independent judicial inquiry, potentially overseen by a Supreme Court judge. State Congress president Jitu Patwari has labeled the situation as the "loot of Mahakal land" and questioned how the family's land ownership purportedly surged from 100 acres to 335 acres during Yadav's tenure. The party also alleges that the Master Plan was manipulated to benefit the Chief Minister's family's real estate interests. The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) has refuted these allegations, asserting that neither Mohan Yadav nor his family members have engaged in any illegal land transactions or misused their official position. The CMO claims that the majority of the land purchases occurred before Mohan Yadav assumed his current role and that all properties are duly declared in his election affidavits. The BJP, defending the Chief Minister, has dismissed the Congress's claims as politically motivated and a conspiracy to undermine a popular leader. They maintain that the land details declared in Yadav's 2023 election affidavit remain unchanged and that any acquisitions by relatives are independent and unconnected to the Chief Minister. Despite the denials, the revelations have led to significant political discourse, with the Congress persistently demanding accountability and transparency. The Indian Express, a reputable news outlet known for its investigative journalism, has stood by its report, detailing its methodology and the documents examined. While official records are still being scrutinized, the allegations have cast a shadow over the Chief Minister's administration, prompting calls for a thorough and impartial investigation to ascertain the facts and uphold public trust. The situation remains a developing story with significant political ramifications for Madhya Pradesh.

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