New Delhi: Ever since he took oath on December 13, 2023, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav’s family and their real estate companies have purchased at least 137 plots, amounting to a total of up to 168 acres, for Rs 45 crore, an investigation by Jay Mazoomdaar for Indian Express has revealed.The Indian Express’s exclusive report added that these plot purchases have taken place in zones most benefited by the urban renewal seen in Ujjain which is powered by a sweeping infrastructure upgrade.The property purchases raise questions of propriety and conflict of interest on the part of Yadav, as most of these plots are either close to new road projects announced in and around Ujjain, or in areas which have been demarcated for change of land use from agriculture to residential or commercial in the Ujjain Master Plan 2035.Yadav has been closely involved in the development of Ujjain, first as the chairperson of the Ujjain Development Authority during 2004-2010, then as head of MP Tourism Development Corporation (MPTDC) during 2011-13, and as MLA from Ujjain (south) since 2013.As per the Indian Express report, according to ownership records, the plots in question were purchased by CM Yadav’s wife Seema, son Vaibhav’s wife Shalini Yadav, brothers Nandlal and Narayan Yadav, Narayan’s wife Rekha, their son Abhay Yadav, and first cousins Govind and Nilesh Yadav, either directly or through one of four real estate companies run by the family.CM Yadav did not respond to multiple requests for comment by the newspaper. A senior state government official said it was not appropriate to link the business or land dealings of his family with the Yadav and his office.“The CM’s extended family has been in the real estate business for a while. To link their businesses with the CM’s rise in politics will not be proper. When you talk about his family, it should include only his wife, son and daughter-in-law… and there you may not find anything major,” Indian Express quoted a senior government official as saying on condition of anonymity.Responding on behalf of Mohan Yadav’s cousins Govind and Nilesh, Govind Yadav’s son Anant Yadav told the newspaper: “Our family is in realty business since 2010 when my father developed a 100-bigha property. My uncle has many housing projects. As private individuals, we have every right to buy, develop or sell any private land. Should we shut down just because the CM is from our family?”The IE report said that of the 168 acres purchased, around 111 acres were situated alongside highway and road projects announced by the Yadav government. Major land holdings are concentrated in Gangedi, Unhel, Jaiwantpur and Chandesara villages.