lokayukta Justice (retd) NK Mehrotra served a notice and summoned the complainant to come with more details into the corruption charges leveled against Mining Minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati.
“We have received a complaint in 1,725 pages against Gayatri Prajapati in which the Minister was accused of having used his official status to earn huge wealth on his, his family members and some other employees and relatives’ names,” disclosed Mehrorta while confirming to have summoned the complainant, Om Shankar Dwivedi — a resident of Pratapgarh to — come with more proofs which would buttress charges against the Minister on December 22.
“We have to examine some charges — like the complainant said that the Minister owned a dozen vehicles — 2 Fortuners, 2 BMW, 3 Scorpio, 2 Innova, 1 Endeavour, and 1 Altis, but had not mentioned any registration or other details which will help us to proceed further,” claimed Mehrotra, while adding that he also needs to confirm regarding charges that Minister, his son or others close to Prajapati had procured huge properties in the name of companies like Suhang Exports, Decent Contractors, like Cure Medical & Research Centre Private limited, MJA Contractors, Dream Destinations etc.
The complaint, while charging Gayatri Prajapati of having earned huge wealth, claimed that the Minister had lied in his 2002 affidavit during elections — where he claimed himself to be a BPl card holder which was changed into APl card by 2012 and now he is said to have owned property worth Rs1.81 crore.
Similarly, he claimed to be having just 10 grams of golds in the affidavit but now he was seen wearing a 50 gram gold chain, three rings, all worth several lakh of rupees. He also showed his wife to be possessing 20 gram gold but now she owns two gold necklaces, two gold chains, besides other ornaments.
The complainant also pointed that the Minister misused his post and earned disproportionate assets during his current tenure as the Minister.
He said that Prajapati’s wife owns Rs1.40 crore, his daughter Ankita has Rs5.61 lakh, son Anurag has Rs17.50 lakh, son Anil owns Rs3.48 crore, one woman friend Gudda has Rs2.78 crore, two drivers — Ram Sahai and Ram Raj— having over Rs2.06 crore each, etc.
Besides, about three dozen relatives of the Minister also have combined wealth of Rs330.20 crore. Thus, over Rs340.49 crore have been procured by Prajapati, either in his, or his family members, relatives and employees names.
The complaint letter contains proof of properties belonging to the Minister and his kin in Amethi, lucknow and Mohanlalganj, along with the copies of registries.
“Before becoming legislator I was a contractor in HAl, Amethi and also director of a company involved in sale or purchase of properties. later, after becoming an MlA, I resigned from the post of director. The complaint has been done to blackmail me”, Prajapati told the media while alleging that the complaint was an attempt to “malign” his political image and he would explore legal action against those involved in the act.
“Most of the land shown in my name has been purchased before I became the MlA,” he said.