New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday questioned RJD chief Lalu Prasad for nearly 10 hours in connection with the money laundering probe into the alleged land-for-jobs scam. Lalu Prasad, accompanied by his daughter Misa Bharti, arrived at the ED office in Patna around 11.05 am and left at around 9 pm.
Misa Bharti’s Remarks
Lalu’s daughter Misa Bharti criticized the Narendra Modi-led Centre, stating that the ED’s actions against her father indicate that the central government is ‘afraid’ of the RJD chief. She said, “He (Lalu) cannot eat himself, someone will have to feed him. We do not know whether he has eaten or not. No ED official is ready to speak … Since elections are near, PM is scared and will do such things only. This government can (arrest) my father also, but what will they get by arresting a sick man?”
Alleged Scam Details
The alleged scam occurred when Lalu Yadav was the railway minister between 2004 and 2009. In exchange for getting them appointed in the Railways, Lalu Prasad allegedly got lands transferred owned by candidates and their family members in the names of his wife Rabri Devi and daughter Misa Bharti for sale consideration, which was much lesser than the prevailing circle rates as well as the prevailing market rates.
CBI Chargesheet
The CBI filed the chargesheet in October last year against former Bihar chief ministers Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, their daughter Misa Bharti, and 13 others in the land-for-jobs scam. According to the CBI, the people were first recruited as substitutes in Group D posts in the Railways and were regularized when their families made a land deal. The CBI is probing the allegations of taking land for a bribe in lieu of a job in the Railways. At the same time, the ED is investigating the case of money laundering.
ED’s Allegations
The ED has alleged that a former employee at the ‘gaushala’ of Rabri Devi acquired a property from a railway job aspirant and later transferred it to the ex-Bihar chief minister’s daughter Hema Yadav. In the chargesheet, the ED has named Amit Katyal, an alleged close associate of Lalu Prasad and his family members, Hridayanand Chaudhary, an alleged beneficiary of the scam and the former ‘gaushala’ employee, and two firms — A K Infosystems Pvt. Ltd. and A B Exports Pvt. Ltd. — through their common director Shariqul Bari.
Katyal’s Arrest
Katyal was arrested by the ED in November last year for “knowingly assisting Lalu Prasad and his family in money laundering.” He is currently lodged in a jail under judicial custody.
Delhi Court’s Notice
The Delhi court took cognizance of the chargesheet last week and issued notices to the accused to appear before it on February 9 for commencement of trial against them under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
