MTA to petition SC for CBI probe in Mahmoodabad estate issue

Lucknow, Feb 16 (UNI) The wrangling over the vast Mahmoodabad estate and other properties in Uttar Pradesh worth billions of rupees, has taken a new twist with the Mehmoodabad Tenants Association (MTA) announcing to petition the Supreme Court next week demanding a CBI probe in the whole issue, including its ownership.

Addressing a news conference here last night, MTA president Sandeep Kohli reiterated that vast tracts of land were given to taluqdars loyal to the crown during the 1857 mutiny under the province of Oudh.

The Raja of Mahmoodabad was one of the beneficiaries, he added.

These land were meant to be developed into civil settlements.

''The taluqdars were not given land title and they merely acted as lessor and collected land levy and deposited the same in the British treasury,'' Mr Kohli claimed producing several legal and revenue documents of that time.

''In his affidavits before the apex court, late Raja of Mahmoodabad's son Raja Mohd Amir Mohd Khan has concealed several material facts, which could have put a question mark over his claims of ownership,'' he alleged.

Mr Kohli said the Raja was yet to submit ownership document of the properties in question.

''The Raja of Mahmoodabad can best be described as 'non-occupant tenant' without ownership right,'' he maintained.

Mr Kohli claimed the property of erstwhile Raja of Mahmoodabad belongs to the State of Uttar Pradesh, since he was merely a lessor and not the land owner.

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