Jharkhand MLA Accuses MP Dulu Mahto of Rs 40,000 Crore Benami Property, Supreme Court Orders Probe

Dhanbad: Jairam Mahto, the president of Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) and the incumbent MLA from Dumri, on Thursday accused Dhanbad MP Dulu Mahto of amassing benami properties worth Rs 40,000 crore over the years.Jairam, who appeared before a Dhanbad court in a case, demanded a thorough probe into the matter. Dulu, however, did not respond to the allegations till late in the evening and did not respond to TOI’s calls and messages.“A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court regarding benami assets worth Rs 40,000 allegedly linked to MP Dulu Mahto. The Apex Court has directed the state govt to investigate the matter,” Jairam said.The first-time MLA said, “Even if he were to live for 80 years, he will not be able to spend such a huge amount as even if a person spends Rs 5 lakh daily, it will take him 2,000 years to exhaust Rs 40,000 crore. This clearly shows the scale of the alleged benami property. Such serious allegations must be investigated thoroughly,” he said.Jairam named three alleged partners of Dulu and demanded that their properties should be investigated. “I am a researcher, and the MP has tried to target a researcher. I do not make baseless allegations. Whatever I say is backed by facts,” he claimed.Reacting sharply to the allegations, Dulu’s representative Nitin Bhatt said that Jairam Mahto was deliberately trying to tarnish the MP’s image. “The accusations are baseless and politically motivated, aimed solely at defaming a respected public representative,” Bhatt claimed.Jairam, however, backed the BJP’s demand for conducting municipal elections in the state at the earliest. He urged the state govt to conduct a review before implementing the PESA regulations, which were cleared by the state cabinet in December last year. “Its implications should be carefully examined in the interest of tribal and local communities,” he added.While Dulu did not respond representative Nitin Bhatt said that Jairam Mahto was deliberately trying to tarnish the MP’s imageA petition has been filed in the Supreme Court regarding benami assets worth Rs 40,000 allegedly linked to MP Dulu Mahto. The Apex Court has directed the state govt to investigate the matter