Jayanta Mallabaruah’s Property Boom: How a Minister Amassed Crores in Two Years

In a development that could snowball into a major political scandal, startling revelations about the alleged disproportionate assets of Assam cabinet minister Jayanta Mallabaruah have surfaced. Documents accessed from official land records suggest that the minister and his wife, Julie Deka Baruah, may be in possession of properties worth over ₹300 crore, despite having declared assets of less than ₹2 crore during the 2021 Assembly elections.

What’s raising eyebrows is the sheer pace and scale of asset accumulation. Between 2021 and 2023, the couple’s known wealth has reportedly jumped by over 2000%, with multiple land and property acquisitions emerging in and around Guwahati.

The Land Deal That Sparked It All

A key transaction now under scrutiny is the acquisition of a prime plot of land in Dispur, just steps away from the state capital complex. The land, identified as Dag No. 1083, measuring 2 kathas and 18.79 lechas, was originally owned by Nalin Chandra Borgohain and Punya Borgohain. It was purchased by Rameshwar Talukdar, a property dealer notorious in Guwahati’s real estate circles, in November 2017 (Mutation Order No. MET/DIS.2017-18/1776/OMUT).

Subsequently, in a transaction that has drawn significant attention, Talukdar sold this plot—along with a multi-storey building on it—to Julie Deka Baruah, wife of Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah. The mutation in her name was formalized through order number MET/DIS/2022-23/89839/OMUT, dated March 26, 2023, executed by Lat Mandal Anuwar Hussain and then Circle Officer Shantanu Gogoi.

Following the purchase, Julie Deka Baruah established a hotel named “Kailash Residency” on the premises, allegedly named in memory of her father. The hotel is now fully operational, standing as a towering symbol of the Baruah family’s rapid financial ascent.

₹15 Crore Transaction Raises Red Flags

Sources with knowledge of the deal estimate the value of the land and building at around ₹15 crore—an amount far beyond what a minister’s declared income could reasonably justify. This has fueled allegations of unexplained wealth and benami transactions. What has made the deal even murkier is the involvement of Rameshwar Talukdar—a figure against whom the Assam Chief Minister has publicly pledged a crackdown as part of his anti-land mafia campaign.

Whispers of Commissions, Government Scheme Abuse

Baruah’s name has also been unofficially linked to kickbacks in the awarding of contracts under the Jal Jeevan Mission, a multi-crore government initiative for drinking water access. Though no formal complaint has been filed yet, political insiders suggest that a “cut-rate commission system” has become normalized within the department.

There are also unverified reports that central subsidies under Gir cow breeding and dairy development schemes have benefited those close to the minister—raising fears of broader misuse of public funds.

Party Rift, ED Probe Demands

The scandal has begun to ripple through BJP’s own ranks, with several leaders privately admitting that the allegations have cast a long shadow over the party’s clean-governance narrative. While some senior leaders are reportedly trying to shield Baruah, others have expressed frustration, accusing him of “undermining the very foundation” of public trust in the BJP.

Opposition leaders have meanwhile demanded a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into what they describe as “clear and glaring signs of disproportionate asset accumulation.”

“This one hotel is just the tip of the iceberg,” a senior Congress leader alleged. “A full investigation will reveal how many benami properties and shell transactions are involved. The ED must step in.”

A Fall From Grace?

Jayanta Mallabaruah, once hailed as an articulate and ‘clean’ face of the BJP, now finds himself cornered. His declared monthly salary as a minister stands in stark contrast to the crores allegedly spent in acquiring multiple properties. As more ownership records are expected to come under scrutiny, many believe this may just be the beginning of a much deeper political and financial exposé.

If proven true, the very assets that once signified Baruah’s influence may soon become his political liability—and perhaps even his legal downfall.

Also Read: "Did Jayanta Mallah Baruah’s Wife Find Aladdin’s Lamp?" Akhil Gogoi Questions Wealth Surge