Ujjain is undergoing a massive urban change, fuelled by the approaching Simhastha Kumbh 2028, making it one of the most popular real estate markets in India. The early investors in these projects include Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav’s family, brothers and first cousins, reported The Indian Express. However, the charges have been dismissed by them.
Yadav took over the position on 13th December 2023 after which the media house claimed that his family and their real estate firms have spent Rs 45 crore on at least 137 plots totalling 168 acres till last December in areas that stand to gain the most from this infrastructural initiative. 12 acres of the property were transferred within the Yadav family.
Khatauni (ownership) records showed that Yadav’s wife Seema, son Vaibhav’s wife Shalini Yadav, brothers Nandlal and Narayan, Narayan’s wife Rekha, their son Abhay and first cousins Govind and Nilesh Yadav bought these plots either directly or through one of the family’s four real estate businesses.
IE mentioned that the majority of these plots are either nearby recently announced road projects in and around Ujjain or in locations designated in the Ujjain Master Plan 2035 for a shift in land utilisation from agriculture to residential or commercial. Since December 2023, Yadav’s family has made transactions that have added to their already existing land bank.
The IE claimed to discover that the family members including his sister Kalavati and son Vaibhav, possessed at least 108 plots totalling 179 acres in and around Ujjain. 85 acres of this was acquired during Yadav’s tenure as Education Minister in 2021–2023. “But it was after Mohan Yadav was sworn in as CM that the family went on a land-purchase overdrive,” the article asserted.
Notably, Yadav has been actively involved in the development of the holy city’s infrastructure and tourism for decades. He served as chair of the Ujjain Development Authority from 2004 to 2010, as head of the MP Tourism Development Corporation (MPTDC) from 2011 to 2013 and as an MLA from Ujjain (south) since 2013.
Yadav owns at least 17 acres, which he listed in his 2023 asset declaration as purchases (13 acres in 1998) and inheritance (4 acres) while his wife directly owns at least 10.6 acres that were acquired between 2008 and 2010. The couple held at least 39.5 acres through Siddhi Vinayak Devcon Pvt Ltd, a family corporation in which they both own a 73% stake.
In September 2024, 12 acres of this were sold to first cousin Nilesh Yadav. During 2024–2025, Siddhi Vinayak Devcon bought a minimum of three plots (2.6 acres). According to the Ujjain Master Plan 2035, which was published in May 2023, the Yadav family owns land in nearly every zone designated for the conversion of agricultural land to residential land within the city limits.
IE stated that they bought at least 30 acres in Sawarakhedi in March and April of 2023, just weeks before the Master Plan was made public. At least 37 acres in locations where land use changed in 2023 have been acquired by Yadav’s family members since he became chief minister.
According to the Master Plan, the majority of these areas, like Nanakheda, Sawarakhedi or Dedhiya, where land use has been altered to permit residential development are next to Ujjain’s greatest land value regions.
Mohan Yadav’s family counter the accusations
“Our family is in realty business since 2010 when my father developed a 100-bigha property. My uncle has many housing projects. As private individuals, we have every right to buy, develop or sell any private land. Should we shut down just because the CM is from our family,” charged Anant, Mohan Yadav’s nephew and son of his cousin Govind Yadav.
“My father is not the sole owner. He has six-seven business partners. Though registered in 2023, the land purchase deals date back to 2020 when he (Mohan Yadav) was not even a minister. The highway work was cleared back in 2019. The land is 100m from the highway,” he clarified regarding the project at Gangedi.
“Our agreement with the builder is based purely on the appreciating value of the land and the fixed cost of development,” he added. Additionally, state government officials likewise argued that it was “not correct” to associate Yadav’s role as the chief minister position with purchases made by his family.
“The CM’s extended family has been in the real estate business for a while. To link their businesses with the CM’s rise in politics will not be proper,” an officer mentioned and added, “When you talk about his family, it should include only his wife, son and daughter-in-law and there you may not find anything major.” Another senior official stated that the land transactions weren’t necessarily acquisitions of plots and some of them were later sold.
