Land-for-job scam: CBI raids 25 places, RJD leaders among those searched

CBI raids were ongoing at the residence of RJD MLCs Sunil Singh, Ashfaque Karim and Faiyaz Ahmad and former RJD MLC Subodh Roy in Patna

On a day the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar is facing a confidence motion, the CBI on Wednesday conducted searches at 25 locations in connection with the lands-for-jobs scam with officials claiming one of the premises raided is linked to Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav.

CBI officials said the under-construction Urban Cubes mall in Haryana’s Gurugram Sector 71 is owned by a company in which Tejwashwi’s family has ownership stakes, a claim denied by the RJD leader who said, “wherever BJP is not in power, it sends its three "jamai" (sons-in-law) -- ED, CBI and IT.”

"These media outlets should do some research. The mall belongs to someone based in Haryana, and was inaugurated by a BJP MP," Tejashwi said.

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Besides the mall, searches are being conducted at 24 other locations, including in Delhi, Patna, Madhubani and Katihar, including those owned by senior RJD leaders like MLC Sunil Singh and Rajya Sabha MPs Ashfaque Karim and Faiyaz Ahmad and former MLC Subodh Rai.

The searches came on a day Nitish was facing a trust vote after he ditched the BJP and formed a government with RJD and other non-NDA allies. In 2017, Nitish had come out of an alliance with RJD and joined hands with the BJP after Tejashwi was named by CBI in cases.

The CBI action – in a case where it is alleged that Railway jobs were given to people in 2008-09 when Lalu Prasad was Railways Minister in lieu of land – immediately invited the wrath of the Opposition parties, as they described it as harassment.

Congress Media Department Chairperson Pawan Khera told reporters in Delhi, "look at the timing. Soon after the BJP lost the government, they are using the CBI to harass an Opposition-led government."

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"I do not wish to comment on the merits and demerits of the case. But the timing of the raids is a clear indication that the investigating agencies are trying to help the BJP," JD(U) Parliamentary Board president Upendra Kushwaha alleged.

The case in which searches are being conducted was registered on May 18 against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, and daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, in addition to 12 people who were given jobs in Railways in 2008-09.

The candidates were appointed as substitutes in group D positions within three days of applying in "undue haste" and were later regularised after they transferred land to Prasad’s family. The transfers were made through three sale deeds in the name of Rabri Devi and one in the name of Misa and two gift deeds in the name of Hema, CBI claimed.

The agency also alleged that land measuring about 1.05 lakh square feet in Patna was acquired by Prasad's family members by making payments to the sellers in cash.

"The current value of the above said seven parcels of land, including the land acquired through gift deeds, as per the existing circle rate is about Rs 4.39 crore... The enquiry has revealed that the parcel of land, which was directly purchased by the family members of Lalu Prasad from the sellers, was purchased at lower rates than the prevailing circle rates," the FIR has claimed.

(With PTI inputs)