In Uttar Pradesh, another Minister of Mayawati Government has been issued a notice by the state Lokayukta, Justice N K Mehrotra for misuse of power. Quoting official sources, AIR Lucknow Correspondent reports that the Lokayukta has issued notice to the Labour Minister Badshah Singh, seeking his reply by the 23rd of this month. Lokayukta has also sent a copy of the notice to Chief Minister Mayawati.

Mr. Badshah Singh has been charged of land grabbing and misuse of office. The Lokayukta has registered a complaint in this regard against the Minister who represents Maudaha assembly segment of Mahoba district in Bundelkhand region of the state. A resident of the district, in his complaint to the Lokayukta, has accused the BSP leader of grabbing government land.

The complainant has also alleged that the minister has included government land into the campus of a Degree College constructed in the name of his father. The complainant has also charged the Minister for constructing a commercial complex on a site which was already marked for construction of a government hospital.

AIR correspondent reports that Mr. Singh is the third Minister in the Mayawati government who has been indicted by the Lokayukta. Earlier, Animal Husbandry Minister Awadhpal Singh Yadav and Religious Affairs Minister Rajesh Tripathi had to resign after they were found indulging in illegal activities in Etah and Gorakhpur districts.

The Bahujan Samaj Party has suspended Awadhpal Singh Yadav for his alleged indiscipline against the party. Two other Ministers in the Mayawati Cabinet, including state Horticulture Minister Narayan Singh and Secondary Education Minister Rang Nath Mishra are also facing inquiry of Lokayukta. These two have been charged for grabbing public property and involved in corrupt practices.