Bolangir/Titilagarh: A month after the allegation of fraudulent land deals levelled against him by Aam Admi Party (AAP), BJP legislature party chief and Patnagarh MLA KV Singh Deo today landed in a soup again when his sister-in-law and BJD leader Prakruti Devi brought a similar allegation of irregularities in purchase of land against him.
Hundreds of BJD supporters led by the top rival of KV in Patnagarh gheraoed the office of the sub-collector and submitted a memorandum addressed to Governor seeking a Crime Branch probe into the land deals of the local legislator. She alleged that the BJP leader has acquired land from the poor people on false assurance of providing them jobs.
She said that Patnagarh MLA grabbed five acres of land in Karlamal village under Khaprakhol block on the pretext of setting up a health centre, 50 acres in Patanagarh block in the name of a Krushi Vigyan Kendra, seven acres in Titilagarh block for setting up a college on false assurance of providing employment.
“Even though seven years have elapsed since he purchased the lands from the poor people, the work is yet to start on the lands," Prakruti said.
A similar allegation was brought against the BJP heavyweight in July by the Bolangir district unit of AAP. AAPy activists had also gheraoed the vigilance office to press their demand for a thorough probe into the land deals of the Patnagarh MLA. "He (KV) registered the land in his name on the pretext of setting up a college and giving false assurance to the land losers of providing them jobs in the institution," AAP leader Ajay Das had said.
KV, on the other hand, accepted the challenge thrown by his sister-in-law. He said the ruling party can order a probe and then only the truth would come out. "Their party is in power and the Home department is under the chief minister. They should order an inquiry, which would bring out the truth," Singhdeo said.
The BJP leader also slammed AAP members who he alleged were part of the land transaction. "When the lands were bought, the members of the Aam Admi Party (AAP), who have levelled the allegation, were also with us. There was nothing secret in the transaction," he pointed out.