Lucknow: In a case of political strong-arming, a retired principal has alleged that the local BJP MLA in the Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh forcibly acquired his property. The victim, Liaquat Ali, wrote a letter to the District Magistrate of Hardoi in which he stated, "The local MLA proposed to buy my plot located in Mallawa of Hardoi, but I refused to sell, stating that I have no other place. Later, the MLA attempted to capture the plot with the help of some goons. On 19th of May 2020, the MLA captured my semi-finished house, and no action has been taken."

He further wrote, "I later learned that on 3rd November 2020, a registry for the plot was done in the name of Man Singh by one Mohammad Rashid. However, the land registered by Man Singh is supposed to be with the plot of Mohd Rashid, which is 500 meters from my plot. Based on this fake registry, the local MLA Ashish Singh Ashu has captured my semi-finished house and has been using it as an office."

When Liaquat Ali approached the court, it ordered the Hardoi police superintendent to ensure that no one interferes with the property. However, the police filed a case against Liaquat Ali for demolishing his own boundary wall, after which Ali had to obtain the bail order.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Social Activist Sandeep Pandey from the Socialist Party (India) said that when his party raised this matter and held a press conference, the MLA removed his hoarding from the occupied house, but the place is still locked by Man Singh.

The influence of the MLA can be gauged from the fact that the Magistrate has expressed his inability to interfere in the matter, stating that the district administration cannot take action in case of an MLA.

Unnecessarily being dragged, says MLA

The Mooknayak spoke to the MLA Ashish Singh Ashu, who distanced himself from the whole matter, saying, "I have nothing to do with this case. The dispute is between Man Singh, a BJP worker and former corporator, who had opened an office during elections. He told me that he has the registry in his name. He said that his name is being deliberately dragged into this matter to tarnish his the party’s image, and Liaquat Ali belongs to the Samajwadi Party."