Lucknow:
In the midst of the elections in Uttar Pradesh, a close confidante of Mayawati's has been accused of corruption.
Naseemuddin Siddiqui is a cabinet minister in Mayawati's government. The state's Lokayukta or ombudsman, Justice N K Mehrotra, has recommended a CBI inquiry to determine whether the minister has collected assets that cannot be accounted for.
Mr Siddiqui allegedly set up an educational society in Barabanki in central UP, for which he was granted land at a massive discount. On paper, the land's worth is recorded as 32 lakhs; it was originally valued at 16 crores. Mr Siddiqui allegedly appointed dummy members to the educational society and raised three crores in funds. Many of these transactions have been found by the Lokayukta to be questionable.
Also in the income tax returns filed by Siddiqui, his income is shown at a little over two crores in the last four years. But the family has acquired several acres of land almost worth 50 crore rupees in Barabanki and the Fatehpur districts.
Since the Lokayukta in Uttar Pradesh does not have powers to prosecute ministers, Justice N K Mehrotra has written to Ms Mayawati urging her to initiate a probe by the CBI and the enforcement directorate.
In recent months, a series of Mayawati's ministers have been sacked by her over alleged corruption. Based on the Lokayukta's indictment she has axed more than a dozen ministers.
Uttar Pradesh is voting in seven phases - four have been completed. Today's developments couldn't have come at a worse time for Mayawati, who wants to return for a fifth term as Chief Minister.