Powerless Digvijay lands in trouble

Sources close to the CM today claimed the action has been taken by the Lokayukta and the government had nothing to do with it. Digvijay, in turn, said he will not appeal against the order and will welcome any such inquiry.

The case relates to the change in status of a land deed — Dhar Kothi, a 5-acre plot leased out to the royal family of Dhar, in Indore. The market value of the land is estimated at Rs 16 crore.

After the death of the royal, Anand Rao Pawar, his wife Mrinalini Devi handed over power of attorney to Subhash Gupta, an Indore-based businessman. Gupta applied for the transfer of the lease to Rishabh Housing Cooperative Society and the complainant alleges that this was carried out illegally by officials named in the case at the behest of Digvijay.

But the Lokayukta may find it difficult to proceed further with the case if the version given by Satyananda Mishra, a senior official with an otherwise unblemished record, is correct.

Mishra, who is now the Principal Secretary (PWD), said: ‘‘I rechecked the file today to ensure everything I say is correct. The Lokayukta has not called for this file or looked at it. The orders, as written by me on the file, clearly state that the lease deed cannot be transferred and if there is any move to do this the land will come back to the state government.’’

Sources say this is not the first time that Digvijay’s name has been linked with Gupta. In the run up to the Assembly elections, Uma Bharti had cited a number of cases, alleging collusion between the two.

The Income Tax Department had also carried out raids on the properties owned by Gupta. Subsequently, Digvijay had filed a defamation suit against Uma Bharti and she had promised to substantiate the allegations in her reply to the court. So far, she has not filed the reply.