Faizabad land becomes bone of contention between 3 SP leaders

The name of a third SP leader — Abhay Singh,who is MLA from nearby Gaosaiganj constituency — also figures in the controversy,but he denies he had any interest in the matter.

Ritesh has even lodged a complaint with Faizabad Senior Superintendent of Police Ramit Sharma,stating that there is a threat to his life from Mitrasen and his son Anandsen,but the police have not lodged an FIR yet. The SSP,who confirmed he had received the complaint,said the police were looking into it.

Incidentally,Mitrasen and Anandsen both have a long criminal history. Anandsen,who was a minister in the Mayawati government,was convicted in the case of murder of Shashi,a law student,in 2010 and is lodged in jail. Mitrasen too was in the BSP before he joined the SP and was rewarded with the party ticket for Assembly elections.

Ritesh said that Mitrasen had got seven biswa (more than 9,000 sq ft) land registered in the name of Anandsen’s wife Indu on July 24,claiming that he had bought it from Mahant Ramji Das,who is lodged in jail in a murder case for over five years. He alleged that the MLA had used forged documents.

Ritesh claimed that the land was his ancestral property and was within the boundary of his house at Neelgodam Devkali locality in City Kotwali area. The land was still in his possession,and Mitrasen and his son could get him murdered to take possession of the land,he alleged.

Mitrasen,however,dismissed Ritesh’s claims and allegations as false. “The land belonged to Mahant Ramji Das who has transferred the ownership to my daughter-in-law. I know that Ritesh has lodged a complaint with the police.”

He alleged that actually Abhay Singh wanted to acquire the land and had been “trying to force the mahant” to transfer the land in his name for the last few months,but the mahant refused.

Incidentally,like Mitrasen and his son,Abhay too has a long criminal record. He was in jail at the time of the Assembly elections,and was released only a few months ago. But he denied he had any interest in the land.

Abhay said: “The mahant had talked to me about selling the land when I was in jail in October last year,but I had declined the offer.”

Ritesh said all the party leaders in Faizabad were aware of the issue and “they are supporting me,the SSP has assured me of action.”

District party president Jai Shanker Pandey said Ritesh had once discussed the matter with him,“but had not given anything in writing”.

Mitrasen said that he had not discussed the matter with senior party leaders so far.