New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh Transport and Income Minister Govind Singh Rajput is dealing with the warmth over a 50-acre plot of land allegedly gifted to him by his in-laws earlier this 12 months.
The opposition Congress raised the problem within the state meeting Wednesday, throughout a debate on the no-confidence movement introduced by it towards the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP authorities.
Rajput, who has been an MLA from Surkhi in Sagar district, is considered one of 22 loyalists of MP Jyotiraditya Scindia who sided with him throughout his insurrection towards the Kamal Nath-led Congress authorities in Madhya Pradesh in 2020. The occasion subsequently misplaced energy and BJP’s Shivraj Singh Chouhan returned as chief minister. Rajput was made a cupboard minister together with different Scindia loyalists quickly after.
The Congress has alleged that the 50-acre parcel of land was “first bought by Rajput’s in-laws on his behalf, and later gifted to him to flee stamp obligation”. Moreover, “land use was modified from ‘wasteland’ to ‘farmland’” throughout registration of the plot to “keep away from paying land income”.
Beneath the Madhya Pradesh Land Income Code of 1959, “no land income shall be payable in respect of any holding as much as two hectares used solely for the aim of agriculture”, and “such different land used for non-agricultural objective because the state authorities might, by notification, specify”.
Former BJP chief Rajkumar Dhanaura, who was expelled from the occasion this October, allegedly over his statements towards Rajput, instructed ThePrint: “In September 2021, Rajput’s brother-in-law and mother-in-law bought 50 acres of land close to Sagar, which was then categorised as non-irrigable wasteland. Later, the plot was donated to Rajput and his household and categorised as irrigable farmland.”
Dhanaura, who was BJP Kisan Morcha’s Sagar district president, referred to as it “a transparent case of stamp obligation evasion” that “must be investigated on the highest degree”.
Based on Dhanaura, Rajput “himself bought the land in his brother-in-law’s title and later confirmed it as a present to his family”.
Jitu Patwari, former state minister and Congress chief, whereas elevating the matter within the meeting, requested the chief minister to look into the case.
“Why did Govind Singh Rajput’s in-laws reward no different land besides that which was bought in 2021?” he requested, including: “If his in-laws have such big tracts of land, why reward a plot 35 years after (Rajput’s) marriage? There are various points on this case of corruption. Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s palms are tied in investigating this case (however) he ought to probe it.”
After the Congress’s assault, Rajput briefed the media in Bhopal Wednesday, saying: “Donation of land occurred in shut blood relation beneath regulation. It’s registered beneath regulation, anybody can view it, so what’s the downside if my in-laws have donated land to me?”
ThePrint contacted Rajput for remark by way of calls and messages, however didn’t obtain a response. This text shall be up to date if a response is acquired.
ThePrint has accessed the doc of land registration by which the market worth of the parcel is talked about as Rs 23,84,000, and stamp obligation of Rs 1,54,000 is acknowledged to have been paid on behalf of Rajput.
Dhanaura additionally alleged that Rajput bought one other 25 acres of land in Could this 12 months close to his constituency. “It have to be investigated how, in a single 12 months, Rajput acquired 75 acres of land (together with 50 acres from his in-laws). It’s an enormous quantity and his sources of revenue have to be probed,” he mentioned.
Gaurav Sirothiya, BJP’s Sagar district president, instructed ThePrint: “Land donation occurred however was carried out in response to the regulation. This isn’t the problem right here. Dhanaura, who has introduced up this matter, is planning to contest elections towards Rajput. That’s the reason he’s making these expenses.”
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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