Ayodhya 'illegal' land deals: Mayor, MLA named in list; official says 'premature'

A list of alleged "illegal colonisers" of land in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya has landed some politicians in hot water in the temple district.

The list features Ayodhya City Mayor Rishikesh Upadhyay, incumbent MLA from Ayodhya Sadar constituency Ved Prakash Gupta, and former legislator from Milkipur Gorakhnath Baba, according to an Indian Express report.

The list of 40 "illegal colonisers" of land plots and building infrastructure was issued by the Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA). ADA Vice Chairman was quoted by the Indian Express as saying that the list is "premature", and wrongly "leaked".

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Earlier, the UP government had constituted a one-member committee to probe land deals by public servants in Ayodhya following the November 2019 verdict by the Supreme Court in favour of a Ram Temple in the ancient city.

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Mayor Rishikesh Upadhyay, and MLA Ved Prakash Gupta dismissed the allegations, as per the Indian Express.

On 31 July 2022, BJP's Ayodhya MP Lallu Singh had reportedly written to UP CM Yogi Adityanath alleging illegal land deals by mafia.