Amid Ujjain’s infra upgrade, CM Mohan Yadav family’s land purchases raise questions

In an expose that could spell trouble for Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, an Indian Express report has claimed that his family has bought over 165 acres of land in areas that will benefit from the massive infrastructural upgrade that the city of Ujjain is currently witnessing, including the laying of new roads, highways, and changes in land patterns.

AAP demands probe

The AAP has already flagged the issue in a recent post on X, demanding an investigation into the purchases, which raises questions about conflict of interest.

“Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav’s family purchased large parcels of land in and around Ujjain as the government rolled out major infrastructure projects in the region. When land acquisitions and government development plans move in parallel, they raise legitimate questions about transparency and conflicts of interest. The timing alone warrants a fair and independent investigation. If everything is above board, why fear scrutiny?” the party said in the post.

According to the IE report, Yadav’s family has purchased at least 137 plots spread across more than 168 acres in Ujjain, with the combined value of the land estimated at around Rs 45 crore.

Did family have prior knowledge?

The report claims that several of these properties are located in areas that have gained importance due to government-backed infrastructure plans and changes introduced under Ujjain’s new master plan. The city is currently undergoing major development initiatives, including road expansion, highway projects and urban renewal works, turning several areas into real estate hotspots.

Also read: How India’s ‘greenest state’ is sacrificing massive forest land to mining

The purchases were made after Yadav became chief minister in December 2023. The buyers include his wife Seema Yadav, daughter-in-law Shalini Yadav, brothers Nandlal and Narayan Yadav, Narayan’s wife Rekha, their son Abhay, and cousins Govind and Nilesh Yadav. Records cited in the report also show that at least six of these plots were later sold, while some transactions were carried out through four family-linked real estate companies.

The acquisitions have triggered allegations from critics, who argue that the family may have benefited from knowledge of upcoming government projects and policy decisions.

Ujjain’s real estate boom

The controversy has gained attention because of Ujjain’s rapid urban transformation. The Ujjain Master Plan 2035 includes large-scale infrastructure development, and land prices in several parts of the city have increased significantly following the announcement of new projects.

Also read: The chimera called ‘Mahakal Time’ and why it is merely empty rhetoric

Yadav’s own political journey is closely linked with Ujjain’s development. Before becoming chief minister, he served as chairman of the Ujjain Development Authority from 2004 to 2010 and later headed the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation between 2011 and 2013.

Critics argue that this long association with the city’s development planning makes the timing of the family’s land purchases more significant. However, the family and government officials have denied the allegations.

Family defends purchases

Members of the Yadav family have maintained that their real estate business existed long before Yadav became chief minister.

Yadav’s cousin Govind Yadav’s son Anant defended the family’s ventures, saying, “Our family has been in realty since 2010… Should we shut down just because the CM is from our family?”

He argued that several projects were planned or registered before Yadav took office and that many land deals involved multiple partners and followed normal business practices.

Also read: Madhya Pradesh High Court declares Bhojshala in Dhar a Hindu temple

The family also pointed out that some acquisitions were made near highways and development corridors cleared years earlier, suggesting that the purchases were part of ongoing real estate activity rather than linked to the Chief Minister’s position.

Questions over transparency

The IE report says Yadav and his office did not respond to detailed queries regarding the allegations. State officials, however, defended the family’s business activities, arguing that scrutiny should focus on the chief minister’s immediate family and not extended relatives who have independent businesses.

The officials also said that selling and buying land is a routine part of real estate operations and that not every purchase indicates financial gain from government decisions.