Cobrapost Investigation Raises Questions Over UP MLC Vagish Pathak’s Corporate Interests

The investigation of Cobrapost has raised questions about Uttar Pradesh MLC Vagish Pathak’s corporate interests, professional earnings and property disclosures.

According to the investigation, Pathak served as a director in 18 companies in 2022 and 19 entities a year earlier. His sworn 2022 election affidavit did not name any individual company.

Six of the entities identified in corporate records have links to the Kamla Pasand Group, the report said.

Pathak, a retired Central Excise Department official, also received professional retainers from several pan masala, tobacco and related businesses.

In one case, the annual payments reportedly ranged between Rs. 20 lakh and Rs 32 lakh from 2019-20 to 2024-25.

The investigation examined properties acquired by Pathak and his wife Sonali between 2005 and 2013. These included two agricultural parcels in Jewar measuring 12.39 acres and 11.62 acres.

The report said their combined 24.01-acre holding exceeded the statutory agricultural land ceiling cited in the investigation.

Cobrapost reported that the Jewar properties sit adjacent to four similarly sized parcels owned by the Chaurasia family associated with the Kamla Pasand Group. It estimated the land’s value at more than Rs. 42 crore against Rs. 9.70 crore declared in the affidavit.

The report highlighted Pathak’s 20 per cent stake in Cryogenic Food Processing, valued at over Rs 3.6 crore by book value, alongside other financial discrepancies.

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