Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down as education minister on Saturday following 49 days of student protests over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and demands for sweeping reforms in the country’s examination system. As his resignation made headlines, his election affidavit submitted ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls has once again drawn attention, detailing his financial holdings, liabilities, income and educational background.
Pradhan, who retained Odisha’s Sambalpur parliamentary seat in the 2024 general election, disclosed that he owns assets worth Rs 2.32 crore. Once liabilities worth Rs 32.80 lakh are deducted, his personal net worth works out to around Rs 1.99 crore.
The affidavit shows that a major portion of his wealth comprises
Rs 1.40 crore in movable assets, while his immovable properties are valued at Rs 92.50 lakh.
The family’s wealth is considerably higher. His wife, Mridula Thakur Pradhan, declared assets worth Rs 4.33 crore. After adjusting for liabilities of Rs 20.58 lakh, her net worth stands at Rs 4.13 crore. Their daughter, Naimisha, reported assets of Rs 25.29 lakh, while their son, Nishant, declared assets worth Rs 1.63 lakh.
Taken together, the Pradhan family’s total assets amount to Rs 6.92 crore. After subtracting outstanding liabilities of Rs 53.38 lakh, the family’s combined net worth comes to about Rs 6.39 crore.
Income And Financial Holdings
According to the affidavit, Pradhan earned Rs 12.75 lakh during the 2022-23 financial year. His wife reported an income of Rs 49.92 lakh, whereas their son did not declare any taxable income.
The family also reported modest cash holdings. Pradhan had Rs 35,000 in cash, his wife Rs 40,000, while their daughter and son declared Rs 10,000 and Rs 7,000, respectively.
Apart from cash, the family has substantial financial investments. Deposits across bank accounts, Public Provident Fund (PPF) accounts and fixed deposits together were valued at around Rs 1.75 crore. Mutual fund investments totalled Rs 80.40 lakh, while insurance policies held by family members were worth approximately Rs 67.72 lakh.
Properties, Vehicles And Jewellery
The affidavit states that Pradhan owns agricultural land valued at Rs 12 lakh and non-agricultural land worth Rs 20.50 lakh in Odisha’s Angul district. He also holds a 50 per cent stake in an apartment located in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, which has been valued at around Rs 60 lakh.
His wife listed residential properties worth Rs 1.38 crore, including a house in Talcher’s Manikmara area and the remaining half share in the Ghaziabad apartment.
In terms of vehicles, Pradhan declared ownership of a 2011 Honda City. His wife owns 10 commercial vehicles, whose combined depreciated value has been listed at about Rs 67.78 lakh.
The former minister also disclosed ownership of 200 grams of gold and 2.5 kg of silver, together valued at ₹13.50 lakh. His wife declared 500 grams of gold and 10 kg of silver, with an estimated value of Rs 35 lakh.
Loans, Education And Legal Cases
Pradhan reported a housing loan of Rs 10.80 lakh from Punjab National Bank, besides personal liabilities of ₹22 lakh owed to four individuals. His wife has a housing loan of Rs 20.58 lakh from IDBI Bank. The affidavit says neither Pradhan nor his family has any pending dues related to income tax, GST, government payments or property tax.
Academically, Pradhan holds a Master’s degree in Anthropology from Utkal University, which he completed in 1990.
On the legal front, the affidavit records three pending criminal cases against him. It also clarifies that he has not been convicted in any criminal case. Additionally, two cases registered in 2019 have already been closed after final reports were filed.
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