Maya govt unaware of Big B donation

LUCKNOW: The Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh has denied of any communication from film star Amitabh Bachchan regarding the reported donation of land in Barabanki.

“I have checked up in the CM secretariat before coming here. We have received no communication regarding the donation of land (by Amitabh Bachchan),” Shailesh Krishna, principal secretary to the chief minister, said in a press conference here on Thursday. “In any case, the case is pending before the High Court,” he added.

The official was reacting to reports that the Big B had donated his controversial land in Daulatpur village of Barabanki for building a school, and had written to Uttar Pradesh chief minister in this regard about a week ago. Barabanki DM Leena Johri has also denied of any such communication from Bachchan.

However, a senior official in the CM's office told DNA that Bachchan could not donate the Barabanki land “for the simple reason that his title on the land itself is defective”.

The Faizabad Commissioner's court has already ruled that fake land records had been used to establish the Big B’s ownership over this land.

“The case will come up for hearing in the High Court next Monday, and this seems to be the Big B’s ruse to try and diffuse the matter. Perhaps, he fears that the High Court verdict could go against him,” the official said.