UP Lokayukta indicts former state Labour minister Badshah Singh

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta Justice N K Mehrotra has indicted former Labour Minister Badshah Singh, who was removed from the post last week, for grabbing government land in Mahoba district.

The Lokayukta in his report sent to Chief Minister Mayawati yesterday said Singh should not be appointed to any constitutional post as the land grab charges against him have been proved.

Justice Mehrotra has also recommended that the land should be freed from the possession of the minister and given back to nagar panchayat. A penalty should also be imposed on the minister, he said.

The report has been sent on a complaint lodged by Akhilesh Kumar Upadhyaya, who accused Singh of grabbing gram sabha land.

Justice Mehrotra has also raised question on Badshah Singh using two 'names'.

He said that while in education documents, the minister mentions his name as Ramendra Singh, he has contested election as Badshah Singh.

The Lokayukta in the report also said that though the minister was assessed for tax, he had never paid the same.

On October 5, Chief Minister Mayawati removed Singh and ordered a vigilance inquiry against him.

The minister has been asked to contest legal battle in this connection and if proved innocent in the court, he can be reinstated in the ministry, BSP state president Swami Prasad Maurya had said in a release.