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The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) scam in which VVIPs allegedly bent rules to allot prime plots to their 28 chosen ones has uncovered an unusual trail involving Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh and his request to then Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav for a plot of land way back in 1993.

Following his request, the LDA first cleared a 35 square metre plot for Amar Singh under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category (applicable to those whose annual income was less than Rs 12,000).

In that handwritten note, obtained by The Sunday Express, Amar Singh identifies himself as an elected member of the All India Congress Committee and director of the Hindustan Times publication group.

In just over a year, Amar Singh moved from this tiny plot in the Economically Weaker Section area of Vikas Khand in Lucknow’s Gomtinagar to owning a 288 sq m plot which was then “changed” to a 354.25 sq m plot, both in Vipul Khand, the more upscale section of Gomtinagar. And which now forms part of his 708.50 sq m plot on which his house Aishwarya stands.

Records obtained by The Sunday Express show that the Mulayam Singh Yadav government promptly responded to each of Amar Singh’s requests for land. Within a month, it even allotted him a larger plot just because he asked for it. Such discretionary allotment and subsequent change and upgradation happened despite clearly defined procedures under which the LDA had to float advertisements and ask for applications.

Consider the sequence of events:

• April 25, 1993: Amar Singh writes to CM Mulayam Singh Yadav saying he is director of Hindustan Times Publication Group and an elected member of All India Congress Committee. He requests Mulayam to allot him a residential plot as he frequents Lucknow due to his “political and social” commitments.

• March 28, 1994: P L Punia, Secretary to Chief Minister, writes to LDA Vice Chairman Anil Gupta saying the CM wants him to “consider” the request of Amar Singh.

• The very next day, on March 29, Gupta writes to his joint secretary to examine Amar Singh’s request.

• In 15 days, Amar Singh sends a letter to Gupta saying: “I had applied to you for allotment of a residential plot, but unfortunately, I have lost all the relevant papers.” He requests the officer to allot him a plot of 200 square metres in the Gomtinagar scheme.

• June 26: Amar Singh deposits Rs 10,000 as registration fees and applies for a plot in “5 Vikas Khand” in Gomti Nagar — 5 is a reference to the EWS scheme.

• June 29: LDA approves allotment of E-5/845 Vikas Khand to Amar Singh. While the LDA’s approval is on record, a copy of the allotment letter is missing. Only State/ PSU/Class IV employees are eligible for EWS allotment.

• July 20: Amar Singh is allotted another plot, Plot No 2/43 in Vipul Khand, Gomti Nagar, measuring 288 square meters. Official records do not show any application for this allotment or approval by the designated authority.

• August 16 : Amar Singh writes to LDA Vice Chairman saying: “Since the above plot (2/43) does not meet my requirement, I would request you to very kindly allot me a bigger size plot measuring about 400-500 square metres in the same Vipul Khand.”

• September 26: LDA informs Amar Singh that his request for change of property has been accepted and he is now allotted Plot No 2/13 (354.25 sq m) in the same Vipul Khand for about Rs 4 lakh.

While Amar Singh was allotted a bigger plot, E-5/845 and 2/43 were reallotted to other applicants. Almost 12 years later, on Amar Singh’s recommendation, a 488 sq m plot was allotted by LDA to one Aliya Khatoon in Vipul Khand.

Six months after this allotment, the reason became clear: Khatoon owned a 354.25-sq-m plot right next to Amar Singh’s plot.

He bought it from her and now his house sits on the merged plots. Khatoon’s plot is under a stay order from the Supreme Court that’s hearing a PIL in the LDA scam challenging the allotments in Vipul Khand.

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