Tejashwi Yadav’s home in Delhi is being searched in connection with a land-for-work deal.
New Delhi:
The Delhi home of Deputy Bihar Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav is being searched in connection with a land-for-work deal, days after the CBI questioned his parents, former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, over consecutive days. next. The Director of Enforcement is conducting searches at more than 15 locations in an alleged money laundering case involving Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members. The searches also included premises involving Mr Yadav’s daughters Ragini Yadav, Chanda Yadav and Hema Yadav, and former RJD MLA Abu Dojana in Patna, Phulwari Sharif, Delhi-NCR, Ranchi and Mumbai.
On 7 March, the CBI questioned former union railway minister Lalu Yadav for 5 hours in Delhi at his daughter Misa Bharti’s Pandara Road home, where he currently resides following kidney transplant surgery. . Earlier in the day, investigators questioned Rabri Devi at her residence in Patna.
The CBI case, which names the couple Yadav and their daughters Misa and Hema, among others, is based on allegations that Mr Yadav and family members bought land cheaply in exchange for work during his term as Union Railways Minister from 2004 to 2009.
In addition to the veteran politician, his wife and daughters, the FIR, registered in May 2022, naming 12 people believed to have obtained jobs in exchange for land. In July last year, Mr. Yadav’s assistant and former Special Operations Officer (OSD) Bhola Yadav were arrested by the CBI in the case.
The CBI filed an indictment against 16 people on charges of criminal conspiracy and provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act. All were summoned by the court on March 15.
The raids come at a time when opposition parties accuse the Center of abusing central authorities to settle political scores.
Last week, eight opposition parties wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging abuses of central authorities for political motives by the BJP. Tejashwi Yadav was also among the signatories. The letter mentions Lalu Yadav among opposition leaders targeted by central authorities. It said moves by central authorities “often raise suspicions that they are operating as extensions of the ruling period”.
