The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials who were grilling former Union Minister Lalu Yadav in the land-for-jobs case on Tuesday were asked to maintain adequate distancing and use masks during questioning with the latter as he had recently undergone kidney surgery in Singapore.
“Lalu Yadav has had a kidney transplanted recently, and it is necessary to maintain a sufficient distance and wear a mask because Lalu Yadav is at risk of infection and allergy,” sources told. After three hours of questioning Lalu Yadav, the CBI has left the Pandara Park residence.
A day after reaching former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi’s residence, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) started questioning former Union Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Tuesday in connection with the land-for-jobs case in Pandara Parak, the residence of his Rajya Sabha member and daughter Misa Bharti. Earlier, a CBI official had said that the central agency had served notice to Yadav a few days ago and is likely to question Lalu Yadav soon.
“A few days ago, the CBI served notice to former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Yadav in connection with the land-for-job case. CBI is likely to question Lalu Yadav soon,” a CBI official told on Monday. Earlier on Monday, the CBI reached the residence of former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi in Patna in the alleged case.
The CBI had filed the chargesheet in October last year against former Bihar chief ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, their daughter Misa Bharti, and 13 others in the land-for-jobs scam. The chargesheet stated that during the investigation, it was found that the accused, in conspiracy with the then-GM of Central Railways and the CPO, engaged persons as substitutes in lieu of land, either in their own names or in the names of their close relatives.
This land was acquired at prices lower than the prevailing circle rate and much lower than the market rate. It was also alleged that the candidates have used false TC and submitted false attested documents to the Ministry of Railways, according to the CBI statement. The alleged scam occurred between 2004 and 2009, when Lalu Yadav was the railway minister. Apart from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief, the chargesheet also includes the name of the then Railway General Manager.
The CBI stated that the investigation had revealed that the candidates were considered for their engagement without any need for substitutes and there was no urgency for their appointment, which was one of the main criteria behind the engagement of substitutes, and they joined their duties much later from the approval of their appointment, and they were subsequently regularised.
Recently, on February 27, while taking cognisance of the CBI chargesheet, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court issued summonses against Lalu, his wife Rabri Devi, and 14 others in connection with an alleged land-for-job scam.