Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, May 20
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday morning raided 17 places connected to RJD president Lalu Prasad in a case related to railways recruitment scam during his tenure as railway minister between 2004 and 2009.
Places raided in early morning on Friday included 10, Circular Road official residence of Mrs Rabri Devi, Selar village in Gopalganj that is her parents’ house, Phulwariya village, village of Lalu, his sister’s house in Saran, their cowsheds in Danapur, on outskirts of Patna, residences of 12 beneficiaries of land for jobs scam, Pandara park residence of Rajya Sabha member Misa Bharti, Bhopal and Ajmer.
CBI had registered a fresh case on May 18 against Lalu, former chief minister Rabri Devi and their MP daughter Misa Bharti in recruitments by Railways Recruitment Board by railway ministry without examinations and interviews.
In Ajmer division of railways, 476 people were given jobs without examination or interview. Of them, 116 were from Bihar.
When Mamata Banerjee was Railway Minister, JDU parliamentarians had submitted a memorandum alleging irregularities in tender and recruitments by railway board. Mamata too had recommended a CBI probe.
On Friday, a team of CBI officers reached 10, Circular Road bungalow of Rabri Devi at 6 am and simultaneously at Pandara Park residence of Misa Bharti, where Lalu is staying after his release on bail following sentence in the fodder scam.
CBI teams are conducting searches at the ancestral village of Lalu at Phulwaria in Gopalganj district, three other places in Patna, Bhopal, Ajmer, Ranchi too.
It is alleged that jobs were given in exchange for land, buildings and flats. Both agriculture and residential plots were registered in the names of Lalu children in advance before issuance of appointment letters.
Alok Mehta, Principal General Secretary of RJD, who reached 10, Circular Road alleged raids were acts of political vendetta as RJD had defeated BJP candidates in assembly by-elections and Bihar legislative council.
Leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav has gone to London.
CBI on Friday alleged Lalu Prasad Yadav as Railways Minister had obtained gratification of over 1 lakh square feet in Patna for giving jobs in group D services. According to the FIR registered against Lalu and 15 others, pecuniary benefits too were given to the family of Lalu for jobs in different zones of railways.
The FIR has named Mrs Rabri Devi, wife, Misa Bharti and Ms Hema Achari, both daughters of Lalu, two officers of Railways and 12 private citizens accused.
It was alleged that the then Minister of Railway (Govt of India) during the period 2004-2009 had obtained pecuniary advantages in the form of transfer of landed property in the name of his family members etc in lieu of appointment of Substitutes in Group “D” Post in different Zones of Railways. It was further alleged that in lieu thereof the substitutes, who were residents of Patna themselves or through their family members sold and gifted their land situated at Patna in favour of the family members of said Minister and a private company controlled by family members, which was also involved in transfer of such immovable properties in the name of said family members.
It was also alleged that no advertisement or any public notice was issued for such appointment of substitutes in Zonal Railways, yet the appointees who were residents of Patna were appointed as Substitutes in different Zonal Railways located at Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur and Hazipur.
It was further alleged that in continuation of this modus operandi, about 1,05,292 Sq. feet land/ immovable properties situated at Patna were acquired by Family members of said Minister through 05 sale deeds and 02 gift deeds, showing the payment made to seller in cash in most of the land transfer.
Searches are being conducted today at 16 places in Delhi, Patna and District Gopalganj of Bihar.
Investigation is continuing, a CBI spokesman said.
