• Dr. Vikram Chaudhary

Madhya Pradesh politics is currently heated over land deals in Ujjain. Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari has levelled serious allegations against Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and his family during press conferences in Delhi and Bhopal. A detailed investigative report by ‘The Indian Express’ (June 2026) lends weight to these allegations. According to the report, after Mohan Yadav became Chief Minister in December 2023, his family, relatives, and associated companies purchased over 168 acres of land—comprising 137 plots—in and around Ujjain, with an estimated value of `45 crore.The most striking aspect is that approximately 111 acres of this land are located in areas where the government subsequently announced road, highway, and development projects. In total, the family’s land bank is claimed to have reached 335 acres.

The report details that these land purchases took place in zones designated under the Ujjain Master Plan 2035, where agricultural land was converted for residential or commercial use. It lists landholdings as follows: at least 16 acres in the name of Mohan Yadav’s son, Vaibhav Yadav; over 10 acres in the name of his daughter-in-law, Shalini Yadav; 19 acres held by his elder brother, Narayan Yadav; 4 acres in the name of his sister-in-law, Rekha Yadav; 17 acres held by his younger brother, Nandlal Yadav; and 17 acres held by his sister, Kalavati Yadav. His nephew, Abhay Yadav, purchased 16 acres in 2025 alone.

The real surge in activity was driven by cousins Govind (Bablu) Yadav and Nilesh Yadav. Govind Yadav and his associates acquired over 46.5 acres of land after 2024, while Nilesh Yadav’s family acquired more than 100 acres. Four real estate companies—including Shri Siddhivinayak Devcons Private Limited (in which Mohan Yadav and his wife Seema Yadav reportedly hold a majority stake)—are active in this business. Residential projects under the ‘Sanwariya’ brand have been launched on several of these land parcels, and joint ventures have been formed with builders.

The Congress alleges that this is not merely a coincidence but a case of exploiting insider information. Amidst preparations for the Ujjain Simhastha Kumbh 2028, the issue of the “looting of Mahakal’s land” has been raised. Jitu Patwari asked: Were local farmers, who already own land there, aware of these development projects? Will the changes to the master plan be made public? And most importantly, will the Chief Minister himself initiate a judicial inquiry into this matter under the supervision of a sitting Supreme Court judge?

The Congress has raised even more serious questions. Did the Chief Minister’s Office ensure that Mohan Yadav recused himself from government decisions concerning areas where his family owns land? Were matters involving the family’s private gain discussed in cabinet or departmental meetings? The report claims that in certain projects, landowners receive a 60–70 percent share of the developed property. Were the road alignments finalized first, or was the land purchased first? Will a forensic audit of the family’s companies be conducted? Did any land transfers take place between companies in which his wife, Seema Yadav, holds a stake and other members?

The Chief Minister’s Office stated that Mohan Yadav’s personal agricultural landholding (17.967 acres) did not increase after he became Chief Minister and has been declared in his election affidavit. The BJP termed this a political conspiracy. However, a detailed, documentary rebuttal regarding purchases made by his family, relatives, and associated companies has not yet been made public. This silence constitutes a violation of political ethics. In a democracy, the ruling party has no right to evade accountability.

While farmers in Ujjain have been opposing land pooling, the land empire of a family connected to those in power appears to be expanding rapidly. Purchasing land or engaging in the real estate business is not illegal; however, when such activities coincide with a Chief Minister’s tenure and align with the timing of development projects, a clear conflict of interest emerges. The public wants to know: were the development plans formulated first, or did the family acquire the land beforehand?

The people of Madhya Pradesh desire development—roads, highways, and urban expansion—but they want development that is fair and transparent. If everything has been done in accordance with the rules, why fear an independent judicial inquiry? Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav should provide a public response to these questions. Why is the Central Government—which coined the slogan “neither will I engage in corruption, nor will I allow it”—also silent on this matter?

This issue is not limited merely to land in Ujjain; it raises a question about the boundary between political power and private interests in a democracy. Until there is an impartial investigation and complete transparency, questions will persist: Is Mohan Yadav the Chief Minister or a land mafia operative? The people of Madhya Pradesh are demanding answers.

Source: The Indian Express investigative report (June 2026), Madhya Pradesh Congress press conference, and public records