Lokyaukta probe ordered against Gaurishankar Bisen on corruption allegation

JABALPUR: Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered a Lokayukta probe against state Farmers Welfare and Agriculture Development Minister Gaurishankar Bisen on a PIL levelling corruption allegations against him.

The Lokayukta probe was ordered by a division bench of Chief Justice A M Khanvilar and Justice Alok Aradhe yesterday on a public interest litigation filed by former MLA Kishore Samrite.

The PIL alleged that since 1994, when Bisen hardly had any property, has amassed huge wealth in the name of his family members and relatives in Balaghat, Pune and Bhopal.

The petitioner claimed that it was not possible for any person to amass such a huge wealth without resorting to corrupt means.

The PIL listed details of properties submitted by Bisen in his affidavits to the Election Commission from 2003-2011.

During hearing of the PIL, when no one appeared from Bisen's side, the court said that since the matter is quite serious, it has appointed two senior lawyers, Naman Nagrath and A P Shrotiya, as amicus curiae to assist the court in the matter.

The court also issued a notice to the Home Secretary on the issue.

The petitioner alleged that the minister had purchased a flat worth lakhs in Pune in the name of his daughter, land worth Rs 2.5 crore in front of Balaghat collector's residence in the fictitious name, another land worth Rs 91 lakh in Balaghat in the name of his wife, a sanitary pipe factory and an agriculture land worth Rs seven crore in Waraseoni, Balaghat.

The PIL also alleged that he had purchased land worth crores in Bhopal's Ratibad and Kolar road areas and also took bribe worth crores in awarding contracts for water supply scheme.