The Supreme Court on Monday issued showcause notice to the Mayawati-led Uttar Pradesh government for using money meant for the state's development for installing statues of the chief minister and sought a reply on the matter in four weeks.
A notice was also sent to chief minister Mayawati.
"Notice (has been issued) to the state to showcause why the petition should not be admitted," a bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and A K Ganguli said, PTI reported.
The petitioner Ravi Kant, a Supreme Court advocate, alleged that the total money used by Mayawati from the state budget for 2008-09 and 2009-10 for such projects was to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore to "falsely glorify" the chief minister.
The court passed the order on a PIL seeking its direction to restrain Mayawati from installing her statues and party symbol at public places at the cost of public fund and demanded a CBI probe into the misuse of state exchequer.
The court, after hearing the petitioner's contentions, granted four weeks to the state government to file its reply.
Last week, Mayawati had received much criticism from Opposition parties for unveiling statues and parks of Dalit leaders ahead of schedule, saying it was aimed at pre-empting the Supreme Court from putting these projects on hold.
Mayawati had unveiled the 15 statues, which included that of BSP founder late Kanshi Ram and her own, and parks at a hurriedly-organised function on June 25, nine days ahead of schedule.
This was seen as an attempt to pre-empt the apex court from putting on hold all such projects and a bid to upstage Samajwadi party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who planned to stage protests on July 3, the day Mayawati was slated to unveil the statues, besides memorials of dalit icons and open parks.
Last night, slamming Mayawati for spending Rs 1,000 crore to install her own statues, Union home minister P Chidambaram said the amount could have been used to provide basic amenities to the people and wipe out poverty.
"She is spending Rs 1000 crore on establishing statues of elephants and herself. Can there be something more shameful than this in Indian politics," he asked.
"Of what use will be the statues in UP. The Rs 1000 crore could have helped wipe out poverty of thousands of people, provide basic amenities and education," he said, addressing a meeting to thank voters of his constituency Sivaganga last night.
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