The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday recorded the statement of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav in connection with the land-for-job scam allegedly involving his father and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and others.
Mr. Yadav was questioned by the ED for about nine hours. Last month, the CBI had examined him in its own case.
The CBI had, in October 2022, filed a chargesheet against Mr. Prasad and 15 others, including his wife Rabri Devi and eldest daughter Misa Bharti. In January, it secured prosecution sanction against the former Railway Minister for further court proceedings.
The First Information Report registered by the CBI is based on the findings of a preliminary enquiry into the allegation that during 2004-09, many ineligible candidates were appointed as substitutes to the Railways’ Group-D posts in lieu of land parcels. On the basis of the CBI case, the ED is conducting a money laundering investigation.
The probe agencies have alleged that about 1.05 lakh sq. ft. of land in Patna was allegedly acquired by Mr. Prasad’s family members and in most cases the payments were shown in cash. The land parcels directly transferred to them were purchased at amounts ranging from ₹3.75 lakh to ₹13 lakh, which was lower than the then prevailing circle rates.
The ED had recently alleged the detection of “proceeds of crime” currently worth ₹600 crore. A four-storey bungalow in Delhi’s New Friends Colony, registered in the name of A.B. Exports Private Limited that was owned and controlled by Mr. Yadav and family was shown to have been bought for just ₹4 lakh. Its present market value was about ₹150 crore, the agency alleged.
The charges have been denied by Mr. Yadav.
Published - April 11, 2023 12:41 pm IST
