31-07-2023 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken a significant step in the ongoing investigation into the alleged land-for-railway jobs scam involving RJD supremo Lalu Prasad’s family. On Monday, the ED issued a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to attach assets worth more than Rs 6 crore belonging to Lalu Prasad’s family, including his wife Rabri Devi, daughter Misa Bharti, and linked companies.
The attached assets include six immovable properties located in Patna, Ghaziabad, and the upscale New Friends Colony area of south Delhi. These properties comprise two land parcels in Mahuabagh (Danapur) owned by Rabri Devi and A K Infosystems Pvt Ltd (a company allegedly controlled by Prasad’s family), a land parcel owned by Misa Bharti in the Bihta area of Patna, and portions of two industrial plots in Ghaziabad registered under the names of Vineet Yadav and Shiv Kumar Yadav, the husband and father-in-law of Prasad’s daughter Hema Yadav, respectively.
The ED also revealed that A B Exports Pvt Ltd, a company purportedly owned by Lalu Prasad’s son and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, along with Chanda Yadav (another daughter of the RJD chief), is a “shell” or fake company with its registered address being the New Friends Colony bungalow. The total book value of all the attached assets amounts to Rs 6.02 crore.
The case against Lalu Prasad and his family members emerged from a CBI FIR that accused him, Rabri Devi, and others of being involved in acquiring seven land parcels irregularly as a “quid pro quo” for offering Group D jobs in the Railways. The ED alleged that family members of the candidates who were “irregularly” appointed (as substitutes) and their family members gifted or sold land at lower-than-circle rates to Lalu Prasad’s family and related companies in exchange for these jobs. The ED further claimed that this criminal conspiracy was intended to abuse Lalu Yadav’s official position for personal gain.
The alleged scam is related to Lalu Yadav’s tenure as the railways minister between 2004-09 during the UPA-I government. The ED contended that Rabri Devi and Hema Yadav illegally sold four land parcels, obtained from railway appointees, to Meridian Construction India Ltd., a company linked to Syed Abu Dojana, a former RJD MLA. The proceeds from these transactions were then transferred through various channels to A B Exports Pvt Ltd and M/s Bhagirathi Tubes.
The ED pointed out that despite being declared as the registered corporate office of companies controlled by Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family, the New Friends Colony property is being used solely for residential purposes. The agency conducted search operations at the said premises on March 10 this year, revealing its residential nature.
Over the last few months, the ED has recorded statements from Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, Misa Bharti, Chanda Yadav, and Ragini Yadav as part of its investigation into the case. As the ED continues its scrutiny of the alleged land-for-jobs scam, the attachment of assets aims to further the investigation and establish the source of funds used in these transactions.