Indore: The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh led by then chief minister Digvijay Singh had allotted crores of rupees worth land to self-styled godman Asaram Bapu's trust in Indore at throwaway rates, officials said.
In 1998, Divijay Singh's government allotted 6.869 hectares (27.15 bigha) land to Sri Asaram Gurukul Ashram and Dhyan Yoga Kendra in Bolavali and Limbodi on one rupee annual lease. The land on Khandwa road was worth several crores of rupees at that time, and now it is worth several billions of rupees.
Some stringent conditions were set at the time of allotment of land, but these were neither followed by the baba nor implemented by the local authorities.
In 2008, a complaint was filed with the then district collector, who issued a notice to Asaram Gurukul Trust, but the action remained only up to the issuance of the notice. No further action was taken.
The complainant had then alleged that the trust had forcibly grabbed government and 'kaakad' land. The then Nazool Officer Gautam Singh had then asked the then Tehsildar Sanjay Sharma to delineate the boundaries, but this was not done.
Asaram put tremendous pressure on the district level officials, and all complaints, notices and orders remained confined to the files. The files are now being reopened.
On Saturday, the district administration went to Asaram's Indore ashram and began demarcating the boundaries.
While allotting the land at Rupee One annual lease, the following conditions were stipulated:
One, the land would be used only for planting medicinal herbs, yoga and meditation, there shall be no permanent constructions, so that the government could reclaim the land in future if necessary.
Two, the land cannot be used for other purposes. If it was used for other purposes, the land would be treated as unauthorised occupation and market value of the land alongwith penalty will be collected.
Three, On no part of the leased land shall any concrete structure be built, nor given on rent, nor be given to any individual for use, nor can be used for any purpose other than stipulated, nor can be sold.
Four, the land shall be used only for planting medicinal plants and Yog Sadhana (meditation) and if these were not done, the entire land alongwith its properties shall vest in the state government and no compensation paid.
Five, all permissions, approvals and NOCs relating to use of land shall be taken from concerned departments, and the Master Plan and provisions of Environmental Protection Act shall be followed by the lessee.
But the Asaram Trust threw the rules to the winds by starting full-fledged business in religion. The trust constructed concrete structures and set up shops selling agarbattis, books, watches, shampoos, CDs, cassettes, medicines, Chyawan Prash, oil, face pack, etc.
The complaint was lodged by a local RTI activist, after which the district administration on Saturday carried out the demarcation work at Asaram's Indore ashram plot.
