Retired Indian Police Service officer Maithili Sharan Gupta has found himself embroiled in a fresh legal controversy following allegations of submitting false property details in his election affidavit during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The former Special Director General of Police from Madhya Pradesh, who publicly opposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and contested from Varanasi, now faces serious charges of property undervaluation and misrepresentation.
Complaint Details and Allegations
A formal complaint has been filed with both the Election Commission of India and the Economic Offences Wing by Madhav Gupta, the retired officer's neighbor from Danish Kunj on Kolar Road in Bhopal. The complainant alleges that Maithili Sharan Gupta deliberately concealed the true registration details and market value of his bungalow while filing nomination papers for the general elections.
According to the official complaint, Gupta declared in his 2024 election affidavit that his Danish Kunj bungalow was purchased in 1996 with a current market value of Rs 3.10 crore. However, property registry documents presented by the complainant tell a different story, showing the property was actually registered in March 2010 with a declared purchase price of only Rs 3.85 lakh - significantly lower than the alleged market value of Rs 23.60 lakh at that time.
Additional Charges and Counter-Allegations
The complaint further accuses the retired police officer of encroaching upon a portion of the adjacent plot to create an illegal parking area. When the neighbor objected to this encroachment, he claims an FIR was filed against him in retaliation.
When contacted by media, Maithili Sharan Gupta strongly denied all allegations, describing them as "false and retaliatory". He countered that the complainant himself was engaged in unauthorized construction activities near his bungalow. "The person who filed this complaint is carrying out illegal construction without approval from local authorities and has unlawfully cut down several trees," Gupta stated.
The retired officer also raised security concerns, mentioning his service in Kashmir and awareness of potential threats. "I had raised objections to his unapproved structures, which have even damaged the municipality's sewerage line. These false allegations are an attempt to harass me because I opposed his illegal work," he added.
Official Response and Potential Consequences
Officials from the Economic Offences Wing have confirmed receiving the complaint and indicated it is currently under review. The agency may initiate a preliminary inquiry to verify property registration details, ownership documents, and affidavit submissions.
If the investigation substantiates the alleged discrepancies, the matter could be referred to the Election Commission of India for further action. Such misrepresentation in election affidavits potentially amounts to perjury and violates the Representation of the People Act, carrying serious legal consequences.
Maithili Sharan Gupta, a 1986-batch IPS officer who served as Special DGP in Madhya Pradesh before taking voluntary retirement, contested the 2024 general elections describing himself as a "voice against the politicisation of policing and weakening of democratic systems." He currently serves as the national president of the "Crime and Crime-Free India Mission", an organization that promotes transparency and ethical governance.
