Mulayam Singh denies allegations of disproportionate assets

New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and his family members, including his son Akhilesh Singh Yadav, today denied the allegations of amassing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income, made in a PIL pending in the Supreme Court.

The SP supremo in his counter-reply filed through his council P H Parekh, denied the allegations made by the petitioner Vishawnath Chaturvedi as irresponsible and reckless, aimed at tarnishing the reputation and image of his family members.

The petitioner had alleged that Mr Yadav and his family members have acquired properties worth several hundred crore through corrupt means and has sought a prosecution of UP CM, his son Akhilesh Yadav and one Pratik Yadav under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The SP leader, challenging the maintainability of the writ petition, said that state of UP has not been made a party despite the fact that such allegations must be investigated by a police officer not below the rank of DSP.

Describing the allegation as ''politically motivated'' because the petitioner is an active member of the Indian National Congress, Mr Yadav asserted that as per the petitioner's own allegation, the worth of total assets allegedly belonging to the family is less than Rs 10 crore.

The SP leader also contended that ''no fundamental right of the petitioner has been violated and the allegations has no factual basis and hence the writ is liable to be dismissed.'' UNI AKS/SC HS KP2143