Shillong, January 29: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, accompanied by his daughter Misha Bharti on Monday arrived at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Patna for questioning in the land-for-jobs case.
As per India Today, a sizable gathering of RJD workers protested outside the central agency’s office, expressing dissent against the central government.
A team of ED officials from Delhi reached Patna on Sunday evening to conduct the inquiry into the case involving Lalu Yadav. The ED had issued fresh summons on January 19 to both Lalu Yadav and his son Tejashwi Yadav, physically delivering the notice at Lalu Yadav’s residence in Patna. The summons required the RJD leaders to appear before the ED on January 29 and 30.
In a related development, a Delhi court summoned Rabri Devi and daughter Hema Yadav, among others, to appear on February 9 in connection with the same case. Lalu Yadav, Rabri Devi, and Misa are among the accused, and the case is also under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Samrat Choudhary, who was sworn in on Sunday, criticized Lalu Yadav, alleging his involvement in corruption. Choudhary urged Tejashwi Yadav to enlighten the youth of Bihar about the purported system to amass wealth quickly.
The land-for-jobs case against Lalu Yadav revolves around allegations that, during his tenure as Union Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009, he and his family members received financial benefits by transferring land in their names in exchange for appointing individuals on Group D posts in various railway zones.
During arguments in the case, the Enforcement Directorate contended in a Delhi court that the “string was in the hands of the main accused in the CBI offence, Lalu Yadav and his family.”