The incidents include a series of raids by the Lokayukta police. Sleuths of the Special Police Establishment of Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta raided the premises of Indian forest Service (IFS) officer Basant Kumar Singh and unearthed property worth approximately Rs. 100 crores. Singh is Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Ujjain. Apart from his official residence in Ujjain, his house in Bhopal was also raided.

According to SP Lokayukta (Ujjain) Arun Mishra, the IFS officer's wife had a significant share in five hotels, including a luxury hotel in Varanasi. He also owns a petrol pump, a 10,000 square-feet house and a marriage hall — all in Varanasi. His wife, son and father-in-law are partners in a company named M/s Gautam Infrastructures, whose headquarters is in Varanasi as well.

Besides, the officer also has a two-storey, 8000-square feet house in Bhopal, 46 bighas of farmland in two villages both near Bhopal. He has also bought 175 bighas of land and a house in his hometown Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh.

According to the SP, the raiding party also recovered papers showing fixed deposits of Rs 50 lakh and mutual fund and shares amounting to Rs. 25 lakhs, Rs. 19 lakh in cash of which Rs. 17.5 lakh was found in Ujjain and Rs. 1.5 lakh at the officer's Bhopal residence. One kilogram of gold and 2.5 kilogram of silver was also recovered from him. The officer has 10 to 12 bank accounts in the name of his family members and a locker. About Rs. 50 lakhs have been recovered from bank accounts which were cleaned up.

After raids sensational revelations have been made about his proximity to politicians including Chief Ministers and forest Ministers. In 2005 he was appointed as member-secretary of M.P. Pollution Control Board. It is learnt that present Energy Minister Rajendra Shukla, who was Minister of state for Environment and forest in 2005, had personally pushed the appointment of B.K. Singh as member secretary of the Board.

It is also learnt the successive BJP Chief Ministers Babulal Gaur and Shivraj Singh Chauhan helped him while ignoring objections and complaints of senior officers to appoint and retain Singh as member Secretary of the Board until litigation in High Court forced the Government to remove him in April 2007.

Right to information, documents show that the Forest Minister had in August 2005, asked the then principal secretary of the environment and forest department to seek fresh panel of names from forest department including the name of Singh for the appointment on the post. The forest department had earlier sent out panel of three other named to the environment and forest department.

The then Principal secretary of the department was asked to suggest a new panel of names including the name of Singh, though he was quite junior to other officers on the panel. However keeping aside all objections and violating the rules, Singh was appointed as MPPCB member secretary on October 10, 2005. However the appointment was challenged in the High Court on December 2005, Singh was then removed from the post in April 2007.

These facts prove that officials who amass property disproportionate to their income invariably enjoy the patronage of political busses.

Prior to the raid on B.K. Singh premises, property worth several crores was also unearthed from the residence of a clerk of Madhya Pradesh electricity Board.

Special police establishment (SPE) of MP Lokayukta raided the house of a clerk in Madhya Pradesh Central Region Power Distribution Company at Bhopal and unearthed assets worth nearly Rs. 25 crores, going by the current market rate.

Arjundas Lalwani, whose house in Bairagarh was raided, is the office assistant grade-2 (clerk) in the commercial wing of the power company at Govindpura area. SP Lokayukta Siddhartha Chaudhary said, 'We pinpointed him for raid after due diligence. We had received a complaint following which primary investigations were carried out. In the raid, we have found papers showing that Lalwani owns 3 flats, four plots and two agricultural farms in Bhopal and surrounding areas. Besides, savings of Rs. 53 lakh in the form of fixed deposits and national saving certificates (NSC), 26 bank accounts and cash and Jewellery worth Rs. 29.64 lakh was found.' When asked if Lalwani had any other source of income, SP replied, 'His wife is running a typing institute in his house.'

Earlier also properties worth several crores have been unearthed from clerks, store in charge and even peons. This proves that corruption has taken deep roots in Madhya Pradesh. People in general allege that at present, noting happens1 in the state without greasing the palms of the officers, clerks and even class four employees. People also claim that many ministers have become billionaires during the last ten year of BJP rule. Several complaints against the Ministers and high officers are pending with the Lokayukta but no action has been taken against them. Corruption among the government officers has touched new high in Madhya Pradesh. It may be recalled that the IAS couple Arivnd Joshi and Tinu Joshi was found guilty of owning property worth Rs. 300 crores. The State Government has decided to dismiss them from the services. Many IAS and IFS officers are facing serious charges against them.

Among others Kailash Vijayvargiya, powerful Industries minister was accused of bungling in the disbursement of pensions for destitute women when he was mayor of Indore. A judicial enquiry was held against him by NK Jain, former High Court judge. He has already submitted his findings to the Chief Minister. But no action has been taken so far.

Besides these instances of corruption, which has hit the prestige of the state government, Chief Minister is facing a problem which is political in nature. The Sangh Parivar has threatened a daylong pooja on Feb. 15 in Bhojshala located in Dhar. Bhojshala has been the subject of controversy in the similar manner as the Babri Masjid. Both Hindus and Muslims claim that they have right to perform pooja and offer Namaz in Bhojshala. On every Tuesday Hindus perform pooja and on Friday Muslims offer namaz. Special pooja is performed on Basant Panchmi.

This year a peculiar situation has arisen because of the fact that Basant Panchmi happens to fall on Friday. Because of this, extremist Hindu outfits are demanding that since Basant Panchmi is a special occasion for Hindus, Muslims should the prevented from offering Namaz on Feb. 15. But administration is finding it difficult to accede to the demand of Hindu outfits.

The local administration is taking steps to facilitate both pooja and namaz. But this position is not acceptable to the Sangh Parivar. It is learnt that Chief Minister visited RSS headquarters in Bhopal to work out some amicable solution. It may be mentioned here that Dr. Pravin Togadia VHP leader has announced that he may personally try to be in Dhar on Feb. 15. If he carries out his threat then Dhar may face a serious law and orders situation. Many secular organisations, including All India Secular forum has urged that Togadia's, entry in M.P. should be banned. A memorandum making this demand was submitted to the state governor. Ram Naresh Yadav. Togadia, during his recent visit to Madhya Pradesh, made several provocative speeches against Muslims. In his speeches he said that if the becomes Prime Minster he would take away voting rights of Muslims. It would be interesting to watch how Chauhan tackles the delicate situations. (IPA Service)