CBI questions Lalu Yadav in land-for-jobs scam

The CBI on Tuesday started questioning former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in Delhi, in connection with the land-for-jobs scam that took place during his tenure.

The CBI team reached the Pandara Park residence of his daughter Rajya Sabha MP Misa Bharti where Lalu Yadav is staying. The questioning comes a day after the former union minister’s wife Rabri Devi was questioned in Patna regarding the corruption case. Many of these candidates appointed in railways were not eligible for the posts.

Earlier, a CBI official had said that the central agency had served a notice to Lalu Yadav a few days ago and is likely to question  him soon.

Earlier on Monday, CBI reached the residence of former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi in Patna in the alleged case.

The CBI case, which names the Lalu Yadav, his wife and their daughters Misa and Hema, among others, is based on accusations that Mr Yadav and his family members were given land at cheap prices as a quid pro quo for jobs in the railways during his tenure as Union Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009.

Besides the veteran politician, his wife and his daughters, the FIR, registered in May 2022, names 12 people who allegedly got jobs in exchange for land. In July last year, Mr Yadav’s aide and former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Bhola Yadav was arrested by the CBI in the case.

On February 27, while taking cognisance of the CBI chargesheet, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court issued summons against Lalu, his wife Rabri Devi and 14 others in connection with alleged land-for-job scam.

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.