Akhilesh demands probe into reports on boatman’s earning

Prayagraj/Lucknow: A day after Prayagraj-based boatman Pintu Mahara and his family were feted by the media for earning Rs 30 crore through his 130 boats during the Maha Kumbh, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and others opposition leaders have hit out at CM Yogi Adityanath for eulogising a person with criminal background.Akhilesh also shared a video alleging that Mahara had a criminal background. Vaibhav Singh, the SHO of Naini police station in Prayagraj, said Mahara was arrested in a double murder case in 2009 and later released on bail. He was also booked in some other cases. Police sources claimed some other members of Mahara's family have also been named in criminal cases, including ransom, extortion, and illegal liquor production. When asked about his criminal background, Mahara said that all the cases were false and lodged by his rivals in business and politics. During his speech in Vidhan Parishad on Wednesday, the CM had mentioned about a boatman's family that earned Rs 30 crore during Maha Kumbh, though he didn't take any name. It was later revealed that Pintu Mahara was that boatman. His family owned 130 boats. In a post on X in Hindi, Akhilesh said: "The truth of this news should be investigated. If a family has really earned Rs 30 crore in the Maha Kumbh alone, then tell how much GST was received.""First signed an MoU with a thug, now praised an accused in the House with closed eyes. Now open your eyes. Due to all these reasons, the morale of criminals is high in the BJP government," the former chief minister said.UP Congress chief Ajay Rai also questioned how one family could amass such wealth by ferrying devotees during the 45-day Maha Kumbh."Even if you forget the criminal record for a moment, the question to be asked is if GST and other taxes were paid on the income which was revealed in the UP assembly by the CM? Moreover, if the income details provided in the assembly are correct, doesn't it show that the devotees were fleeced because such a profit couldn't have been made on government prescribed rate," Rai said.