Lucknow, Feb. 28 -- Income Tax Department raids on properties linked to BSP MLA Uma Shankar Singh and his associates have revealed alleged benami (proxy-owned) mining leases and large-scale financial irregularities across Lucknow, Mirzapur, and Sonbhadra.
Officials say several benami leases were held in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra, with a Lucknow resident, Ishteyaq of Sadar Bazaar, reportedly close to former UP Mining Minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, holding the largest number.
Officials suspect these leases facilitated illegal mining and possible extortion by local officials, who may soon face questioning.
Investigators have identified over 100 bank accounts and lockers linked to Singh, his family, and associates. Banks have been instructe...