Another UP minister under Lokayukta lens

He said that the minister has been given 10-day time to submit his reply

Another cabinet minister of the Mayawati government has come under the scanner of the Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta for alleged misuse of office.

A complaint has been received against Energy Minister Ramveer Upadhyaya on which a notice has been issued to him. The Chief Minister has also been apprised, Lokayukta Justice N K Mehrotra said. He said that the minister has been given 10-day time to submit his reply.

The move comes after a complaint was lodged by Samajwadi Partys Hathras district president Devendra Agarwal,who has accused Upadhyaya of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income,misusing his local area development fund and land grabbing.

Story continues below this ad

Agarwal has alleged that the ministers family owns residential and agricultural property worth more than Rs 25 crore,and business complexes and flats worth more than Rs 5.75 crore in Hathras.

The complainant has also alleged that the minister had got a Block Development Committee member,Virendra Singh of Hathras,kidnapped during the election of MLCs in 2010 as the latter was against voting in favour of ministers brother Mukul Upadhyay.

The BJP had earlier lodged a complaint against Upadhyaya relating to power purchase by the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited. With PTI