Income Tax department conducts searches at lone BSP MLA house, U.P. Minister questions move

The Income Tax Department on Wednesday (February 25, 2026) conducted searches at the Lucknow and Ballia residences of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA, Uma Shankar Singh, an official said. The officials did not disclose the reasons for the searches or their outcome till Wednesday afternoon.

Mr. Singh, 55, the only BSP MLA in the State Assembly, represents the Rasra Assembly constituency in Ballia district.

Dinesh Pratap Singh, a U.P. Government Minister who is related to the BSP MLA, objected to the action through posts on social media.

“The house of Shri Umashankar Singh, MLA, Rasra, District Ballia, in whose house my daughter is married, is being raided today by the Income Tax Department. Politicians across the country and State, including the Income Tax Department, know that Mr. Umashankar Singh has been struggling between life and death for more than two years.” he said in a post on X.

“In the current circumstances, Mr. Umashankar Singh is spending all his time and money on saving his life, not on earning money. All businesses have virtually shut down.” he added.

Mr. Singh said, “Today, he is living in isolation at his residence. The Assembly session is crucial for an MLA, but he could not attend for even an hour. At this time, neither nurses nor doctors are allowed to go to his house. If any harm is caused to his life, these insensitive organisations will be responsible. In such circumstances, even in the rarest of rare crimes, the Honourable Court accepts the petition on the basis of mercy and acquits the accused. But even in these difficult times, which insensitive politician or organization can think of causing pain even in such circumstances, may God give wisdom to such people and organizations,”.