The Uttar Pradesh Estate department has accused former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav of leaving his palatial bungalow in shambles after vacating it and shifting into his private villa following the Supreme Court order.
Yadav handed the keys of 4-Vikramaditya Marg to the department only late Friday night after vacating the bungalow on June 2. Officials who visited the palatial bungalow on Saturday morning were shocked to see it in complete disarray.
They opened the gates of the bungalow on Saturday morning for the media and TV channels to visit the house and see for themselves the mess Yadav and his family left behind.
A senior officer of the department alleged that imported Turkish tiles from the swimming pool, Italian marble from floors, ACs, imported ceiling and garden lights, bathroom fittings, etc were missing from the bungalow.
The house which was renovated in 2016 at a cost of over Rs 45 crores was decorated as per Yadav and his family’s taste.
Even imported decorative and rare plants were taken away by Yadavs to their new Villa in API Ansal City. The swimming pool and floors were dug to take out Turkish tiles and Italian marbles. Many ACs are missing from bedrooms, study room and other places.
A fitness freak, Yadav had got a new gym constructed at his 4 Vikramaditya Marg residence. The false ceilings and imported glasses were uprooted and there was nothing left behind in the gym.
It would appear that the Yadavs have taken out their anger on the house.
‘It’s a bad day’; ‘life is too short, don’t worry’ are some of the messages and drawings the Yadavs allegedly left behind on the walls of their bedroom to vent their grouse over the eviction.
“We are making a list of the missing items and assessing damage done to house. We will seek legal opinion and then serve a notice to the owner for the recovery of items missing and cost of damage done to the government property,” stated a senior official of the Estate department.
No former UP CM, including Rajnath Singh, Kalyan Singh, Mayawati or even Akhilesh’s father Mulayam has been accused of damaging government property and taking away items which belonged to the Estate department.
“As per his affidavit, he is multi-billionaire. He owns several commercial properties in Lucknow, a house in London and the USA. His party is the most cash-rich regional party in the country. But his act of splurging on public money is unlike a seasoned politician,” reacted a BJP general-secretary.
But the Samajwadi Party has vehemently defended the party boss. “Charges are frivolous and baseless. He has taken away only those items which were bought by him or gifted by party men, friends and well-wishers,” said a SP Spokesperson.
