MP CM didn't buy land after taking office: CMO sources on suspicious deal claim
A report claimed that Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's family acquired large tracts of land in Ujjain that were expected to benefit from upcoming government infrastructure projects.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's office on Tuesday rejected a media report alleging that members of the BJP leader's family had acquired large tracts of land in Ujjain in anticipation of benefiting from upcoming government infrastructure projects. It asserted that neither the Chief Minister nor any of his family members had purchased any land since he assumed office in December 2023.
Sources at the Chief Minister's Office issued the clarification after the media report triggered sharp attacks from the Congress and other opposition parties, which demanded Yadav's resignation and branded his government an "engine of loot".
A report by The Indian Express alleged that since Yadav assumed office as chief minister in December 2023, members of his family and their associated real estate firms have purchased at least 137 land parcels spanning around 168 acres in Ujjain. The report estimated the value of these acquisitions at approximately Rs 45 crore.
According to the report, several of the purchases were made in areas expected to see a sharp appreciation in land values due to planned government infrastructure projects, including new road networks, proposed land-use changes and development works linked to preparations for the Simhastha, which is scheduled to be held in 2028.
Dismissing the allegations, sources at the Chief Minister's Office said Mohan Yadav has not acquired any land since taking oath as Chief Minister in December 2023 and his wife Seema Yadav has also not purchased any land during the same period. The sources added Yadav will issue a detailed statement later responding to the allegations.
CONGRESS DEMANDS YADAV'S RESIGNATION
As the allegations triggered a massive political row, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh launched a scathing attack on the BJP, describing the Madhya Pradesh government as an "engine of loot", a swipe at the BJP's "double-engine" governance slogan used for states where the party is in power both at the Centre and in the state.
"In the BJP's 'double engine' government in Madhya Pradesh, the 'engine of loot' is running at full speed. The Chief Minister of the state himself, Mohan Yadav, has become the mastermind of this loot," Ramesh alleged on X.
He also echoed claims that details of the land deals had surfaced as part of a conspiracy against the Chief Minister from within the party. "There is also speculation that the 'farming of news' against the Chief Minister has been orchestrated by the Agriculture Minister, who moved from Madhya Pradesh to the Centre. It appears to be infighting over the chair and a share in the loot," he added.
Calling the alleged Ujjain land scam the "loot of Mahakal land", the Madhya Pradesh Congress demanded Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's resignation and sought a judicial inquiry into the allegations. State Congress president Jitu Patwari called for an investigation by a sitting Supreme Court judge, alleging that Yadav's family's landholdings had expanded from around 100 acres to 335 acres after he assumed office, and said the Chief Minister must explain the increase.
"Facts clearly show that the BJP is involved in the theft of Ram Temple donations and the looting of Mahakal land. Media reports that have surfaced today are deeply concerning. The chief minister is not just an individual; he represents the entire state. In such a situation, if such serious allegations are made against him, it naturally harms the dignity of the state," he said.
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate also joined the attack on Yadav, calling it a "daylight robbery being carried out by the BJP's own Chief Minister."
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose described the allegations as a "mega BJP scam" allegedly involving a "family of massive land brokers," and claimed that there would "of course be no investigation in the double-engine government".
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, meanwhile, described the controversy as a conspiracy within the BJP, alleging that the party was looking for a way to replace the Chief Minister. Referring to Yadav's previous involvement in the real estate business, he said there was "nothing new" in the allegations and claimed, "This is a conspiracy to remove him".
"The BJP has hatched a conspiracy to defame Mohan Yadav. If these allegations are against Mohan Yadav, then the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has taken 300-600 acres of land. This is nothing new. He used to work in real estate before. Doesn't the BJP know this? These allegations are being made because the BJP is looking for a way to change 3 chief ministers. They want to change the Chief Minister, so they are getting these allegations made," he told reporters.
BJP STATE CHIEF DENIES ALL ALLEGATIONS
Meanwhile, Hemant Khandelwal, the BJP chief in Madhya Pradesh, lambasted the Congress Party for allegedly tarnishing the image of Mohan Yadav.
In a video, the BJP leader said, "There is no truth in the allegations. As per his electoral nomination that he filed in 2023, Yadav held 17 acres of land, and there's no change in the amount till today. The same goes for his wife Seema Yadav," he said.
The veteran BJP leader also added that both Yadav and his wife bought the land much before the master plan came to light.
LAND DEAL CHARGES AGAINST MOHAN YADAV
According to The Indian Express report, since Mohan Yadav assumed office in December 2023, members of his family and their real estate firms acquired at least 137 land parcels covering around 168 acres in and around Ujjain, valued at approximately Rs 45 crore. The purchases were allegedly made by his wife, daughter-in-law, brothers, cousins and four family-linked real estate firms.
The report claims that a significant portion of these acquisitions, which is around 111 acres, are located close to major infrastructure projects announced or pursued by the state government. These include the Indore-Ujjain Greenfield Corridor, highway widening projects, new roads, urban renewal initiatives and development works linked to preparations for Simhastha. It also alleges that several parcels fall within areas where agricultural land was subsequently converted into commercial or residential zones under the Ujjain Master Plan.
The investigation further alleges that some of the acquired land was quickly monetised. It was reported that Yadav's cousins, Govind Yadav and Nilesh Yadav, entered into development agreements with private builders after purchasing large land parcels. Govind Yadav and his associates allegedly transferred 41 acres in Gangedi to an Indore-based builder under revenue-sharing agreements, while Nilesh Yadav registered multiple housing projects under the Sawariya brand with the Madhya Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority between 2024 and 2025.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's office on Tuesday rejected a media report alleging that members of the BJP leader's family had acquired large tracts of land in Ujjain in anticipation of benefiting from upcoming government infrastructure projects. It asserted that neither the Chief Minister nor any of his family members had purchased any land since he assumed office in December 2023.
Sources at the Chief Minister's Office issued the clarification after the media report triggered sharp attacks from the Congress and other opposition parties, which demanded Yadav's resignation and branded his government an "engine of loot".
A report by The Indian Express alleged that since Yadav assumed office as chief minister in December 2023, members of his family and their associated real estate firms have purchased at least 137 land parcels spanning around 168 acres in Ujjain. The report estimated the value of these acquisitions at approximately Rs 45 crore.
According to the report, several of the purchases were made in areas expected to see a sharp appreciation in land values due to planned government infrastructure projects, including new road networks, proposed land-use changes and development works linked to preparations for the Simhastha, which is scheduled to be held in 2028.
Dismissing the allegations, sources at the Chief Minister's Office said Mohan Yadav has not acquired any land since taking oath as Chief Minister in December 2023 and his wife Seema Yadav has also not purchased any land during the same period. The sources added Yadav will issue a detailed statement later responding to the allegations.
CONGRESS DEMANDS YADAV'S RESIGNATION
As the allegations triggered a massive political row, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh launched a scathing attack on the BJP, describing the Madhya Pradesh government as an "engine of loot", a swipe at the BJP's "double-engine" governance slogan used for states where the party is in power both at the Centre and in the state.
"In the BJP's 'double engine' government in Madhya Pradesh, the 'engine of loot' is running at full speed. The Chief Minister of the state himself, Mohan Yadav, has become the mastermind of this loot," Ramesh alleged on X.
He also echoed claims that details of the land deals had surfaced as part of a conspiracy against the Chief Minister from within the party. "There is also speculation that the 'farming of news' against the Chief Minister has been orchestrated by the Agriculture Minister, who moved from Madhya Pradesh to the Centre. It appears to be infighting over the chair and a share in the loot," he added.
Calling the alleged Ujjain land scam the "loot of Mahakal land", the Madhya Pradesh Congress demanded Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's resignation and sought a judicial inquiry into the allegations. State Congress president Jitu Patwari called for an investigation by a sitting Supreme Court judge, alleging that Yadav's family's landholdings had expanded from around 100 acres to 335 acres after he assumed office, and said the Chief Minister must explain the increase.
"Facts clearly show that the BJP is involved in the theft of Ram Temple donations and the looting of Mahakal land. Media reports that have surfaced today are deeply concerning. The chief minister is not just an individual; he represents the entire state. In such a situation, if such serious allegations are made against him, it naturally harms the dignity of the state," he said.
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate also joined the attack on Yadav, calling it a "daylight robbery being carried out by the BJP's own Chief Minister."
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose described the allegations as a "mega BJP scam" allegedly involving a "family of massive land brokers," and claimed that there would "of course be no investigation in the double-engine government".
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, meanwhile, described the controversy as a conspiracy within the BJP, alleging that the party was looking for a way to replace the Chief Minister. Referring to Yadav's previous involvement in the real estate business, he said there was "nothing new" in the allegations and claimed, "This is a conspiracy to remove him".
"The BJP has hatched a conspiracy to defame Mohan Yadav. If these allegations are against Mohan Yadav, then the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has taken 300-600 acres of land. This is nothing new. He used to work in real estate before. Doesn't the BJP know this? These allegations are being made because the BJP is looking for a way to change 3 chief ministers. They want to change the Chief Minister, so they are getting these allegations made," he told reporters.
BJP STATE CHIEF DENIES ALL ALLEGATIONS
Meanwhile, Hemant Khandelwal, the BJP chief in Madhya Pradesh, lambasted the Congress Party for allegedly tarnishing the image of Mohan Yadav.
In a video, the BJP leader said, "There is no truth in the allegations. As per his electoral nomination that he filed in 2023, Yadav held 17 acres of land, and there's no change in the amount till today. The same goes for his wife Seema Yadav," he said.
The veteran BJP leader also added that both Yadav and his wife bought the land much before the master plan came to light.
LAND DEAL CHARGES AGAINST MOHAN YADAV
According to The Indian Express report, since Mohan Yadav assumed office in December 2023, members of his family and their real estate firms acquired at least 137 land parcels covering around 168 acres in and around Ujjain, valued at approximately Rs 45 crore. The purchases were allegedly made by his wife, daughter-in-law, brothers, cousins and four family-linked real estate firms.
The report claims that a significant portion of these acquisitions, which is around 111 acres, are located close to major infrastructure projects announced or pursued by the state government. These include the Indore-Ujjain Greenfield Corridor, highway widening projects, new roads, urban renewal initiatives and development works linked to preparations for Simhastha. It also alleges that several parcels fall within areas where agricultural land was subsequently converted into commercial or residential zones under the Ujjain Master Plan.
The investigation further alleges that some of the acquired land was quickly monetised. It was reported that Yadav's cousins, Govind Yadav and Nilesh Yadav, entered into development agreements with private builders after purchasing large land parcels. Govind Yadav and his associates allegedly transferred 41 acres in Gangedi to an Indore-based builder under revenue-sharing agreements, while Nilesh Yadav registered multiple housing projects under the Sawariya brand with the Madhya Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority between 2024 and 2025.
