SP MLA in dock for land purchase by husband

The Lokayukta registered the case after conducting a preliminary inquiry into the allegations against Asha Kishore of influencing revenue officials to register the purchase of land by her husband Shyam Kishore in violation of norms.

Asha Kishore, a Dalit, is an MLA from Salon assembly seat (reserved) of Rae Bareli district.

The complaint against the MLA and revenue officials of Salon tehsil in Rae Bareli district, has been lodged by Shyam Murari Patel, a resident of Rae Bareli.

The Lokayukta had summoned Salon’s naib tehsildar on Friday to verify the allegations. “Prima facie there appears to be some substance in the allegations. All the transactions related to the purchase of land by MLA’s husband appear to have been executed in a hurried manner by the revenue officials. I have registered a case against the MLA,” said Mehrotra.

The complainant has alleged that the permission required to buy land from a Dalit landholder was issued in a single day by the revenue officials and it was not checked that as per rule the farmer selling the land had at least three acres of land with him. About the exchange of Shyam Kishore’s land with the government land under section 161 of the UP Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, the complainant alleged that the whole process of exchange was concluded within a week.

The Lokayukta said the villagers whose signs are purportedly taken to confirm the exchange of land have denied witnessing the transaction for exchange of land.

Mehrotra said the case has been registered as the complaint points towards misuse of official position by the MLA. He said he has summoned Salon SDM on November 25 in the matter.

When contacted, Asha Kishore said there was nothing wrong in her husband’s purchase of land and the truth will come out of the inquiry. “The land was bought in a legal manner and no norms were violated,” she claimed. Her husband said he exchanged the land with that of government as some villagers wanted a pathway from his fields, which could be facilitated only after the exchange of land.