DA case: UP Govt orders vigilance probe against Siddiqui, wife

The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday ordered a vigilance probe against former Bahujan Samaj Party minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui and his wife in connection with a disproportionate assets case after Lokayukta recommendations.

A vigilance probe has been ordered by the government against BSP leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui and his wife Husna Siddiqui, home department sources said. On February 22, 2012, Lokayukta Justice (retired) N K Mehrotra had recommended an inquiry by Directorate of Enforcement, a wing of the Central Bureau of Investigation, following which the state government has ordered a vigilance probe, he said.

The complaints against Siddiquis was lodged by Jagdish Narain Shukla, who had accused the minister and his wife of owning 'benami' properties.

"There was a complaint that Husna Siddiqui (member of Legislative Assembly) has formed an educational society from illegal sources of income, land was purchased by using black money by under-valuation and irregularities in Bundelkhand Area Development Fund," the Lokayukta report had said.

A first information report had already been lodged against Naseemuddin by the Vigilance Department in Banda in disproportionate assets case on July 6.

The open inquiry by the vigilance had found that in comparison with Siddiqui's income of Rs 69.96 lakh between 1997 and 2012, his expenditures were Rs 14.32 crore, sources said.