She has also planned a “jackpot” prize of Rs  1 crore to be given to one of the lucky donors at a mega draw.

Abhilasha, wife of Nandgopal Gupta, minister for institutional finance , has allegedly collected over Rs 2 crore for the renovation of a Shiva Temple in Bahadurganj area in Allahabad.

There are allegations that Abhilasha had coerced people, many of whom are traders, into giving “generous donations” for the temple.

She plans to hold an impressive function later on Sunday night in which a mega draw would also be held. One of the lucky winners would walk away with a prize of Rs 1 crore, sources said. Prizes worth several lakhs are also up for grabs, sources said.
The programme has raised many an eye brow in the city as well as in the state with opposition parties taking serious exception to the “forced subscriptions”.

Samajwadi Party leader Reoti Raman Singh, member of parliament from Allahabad, alleged that several city traders have complained to him that they were forced into giving donations.

“The minister is also involved in raising funds in the name of temple construction along with the local administration”, Singh alleged while speaking to Deccan Herald from Allahabad.

“Lottery is prohibited in the state. It is surprising that the district administration has granted permission to hold such a function”, Singh added.

The minister, when contacted, rubbished the allegations. “No one was forced to give donations...it is voluntary and proper receipts have been issued”, he claimed.
Only recently a PWD engineer was allegedly beaten to death by BSP MLA Shekhar Tewari and his aides in Auraiya town after he reportedly refused to pay a huge sum of money for Maya’s birthday celebrations.

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister had directed party MLAs and ministers not to collect money for her birthday celebrations, after complaints of forced collections were received from several places.