UP Lok Ayukta orders CBI probe against Naseemuddin Siddiqui

In an embarrassment for the Mayawati government, Uttar Pradesh Lok Ayukta on Wednesday recommended a CBI probe against one of its most powerful ministers Naseemuddin Siddiqui and his wife Husna, an MLC.

"An inquiry by Directorate of Enforcement, a wing of CBI, has been recommended against the minister Siddiqui and his wife MLC Husna Siddiqui for having assets disproportionate to their known sources of income," Lok Ayukta Justice NK Mehrotra said.

He said that inquiry into assets of Siddiquis has revealed a clear cut case of money laundering which could only be probed by a crime investigating agency.

The complaints against Siddiquis was lodged by Jagdish Narain Shukla, who had accused the minister and his wife of owning benami properties.

"There was a complaint that Husna Siddiqui has formed an Educational Society from illegal sources of income, land was purchased by using blackmoney by under-valuation and irregularities in Bundelkhand Area Development Fund," the Lok Ayukta said.

Justice Mehrotra said that inquiry revealed that QF Educational Society formed by Husna Siddiqui only existed on papers and even its members were unaware of its whereabouts.

"In the balancesheet of the society receipts of more than Rs 3.62 crore were shown as capital and other donations. When an inquiry was conducted through Income Tax department the list given accounted only to Rs 1.82 crore," he said.

He said that society purchased 57.18 bigha land in Nidaura village in Barabanki for Rs 46 lakh which was undervalued.

"As per the estimation of the district administration the land is worth is more than Rs 16.39 crore," Justice Mehrotra said.

Similarly, land was purchased in Tindwari village for Rs 4.5 lakh which in reality was of more than Rs one crore.

"Husna Siddiqui purchased a bungalow with total land of more than 16,000 square metre in Cantonment area for Rs 50 lakh from Meera Chauhan. As per the circle rate only the cost of super structure is around one crore," he said.

The Lok Ayukta said that similarly two hectare land was purchased in Banda by Upma Singh, wife of a engineer close to Siddiqui for Rs five lakh in Banda, which was later transferred in the name of Akrami Begum and Arshi Siddiqui for a consideration of Rs 5.5 lakh.