The office of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has denied allegations that his family acquired large tracts of land in Ujjain in anticipation of benefiting from upcoming government infrastructure projects.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), neither Mohan Yadav nor his wife Seema Yadav has purchased any land since he took office in December 2023. The CMO said the claims reported in the media were misleading and added that a detailed response would be issued later.
The clarification came after a report alleged that members of the Chief Minister’s family and associated real estate firms had purchased around 137 land parcels covering approximately 168 acres in and around Ujjain. The report estimated the total value of these acquisitions at about ₹45 crore.
The alleged purchases were said to be concentrated in areas expected to see rising land values due to planned infrastructure projects, including road networks, urban expansion, and development linked to preparations for the Simhastha festival scheduled for 2028.
The report also claimed that a significant portion of the land was located near proposed projects such as the Indore–Ujjain corridor, highway expansion work, and other urban development plans. It further alleged that some agricultural land was later converted for commercial or residential use under revisions to the Ujjain master plan.
The allegations triggered a political controversy, with the opposition Indian National Congress launching sharp criticism of the state government. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described the situation as an “engine of loot,” referring to the BJP’s “double-engine government” slogan, and demanded accountability over the alleged land deals.
Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari also called for a judicial inquiry, claiming that the land holdings linked to the Chief Minister’s family had significantly increased after he assumed office. He demanded that a sitting Supreme Court judge oversee the investigation.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also criticised the allegations, calling them a case of “daylight robbery” by the ruling party.
Other political reactions followed as well. Sagarika Ghose of the Trinamool Congress described the claims as a major corruption scandal, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav suggested the controversy was part of internal political manoeuvring within the BJP and a targeted attempt to discredit the Chief Minister.
The original report further alleged that land purchases were made by members of the Chief Minister’s extended family and associated firms, with some parcels later being developed or sold through agreements with private builders. It also claimed that certain transactions were linked to real estate development projects registered with regulatory authorities in the state.
The matter remains politically contentious, with the Chief Minister’s office denying any wrongdoing and opposition parties continuing to demand an independent investigation.
