CBI files fresh case against Lalu Yadav, 15 others in job scam

The CBI has registered a fresh FIR against former Bihar chief minister and former railway minister Lalu Prasad and family members for allegedly taking over land in Patna from candidates in return for group D jobs in Railways during 2004-09 when he was the railway minister in the UPA government. 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. Following the registration of FIR on May 18 by the Economic Offences wing of the CBI, the agency started a search operation at 16 locations in Delhi, Patna and Gopalganj at the premises of Prasad, his family members and other accused. As per CBI press release, 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.

The CBI has named Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, and daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, in addition to 12 people who were given jobs in Railway zones of Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur, Hajipur, the officials said. The  agency had registered a preliminary enquiry on September 23, 2021 related to the land-for-jobs scam in Railways. The candidates were appointed as substitutes in group D positions within three days of applying in "undue haste" by Railway officials and were later regularised "in lieu thereof the individuals themselves or their family members transferred their land". The transfers were made through three sale deeds in the name of Rabri Devi and one in the name of Misa Bharti and two gift deeds in the name Hema Yadav.

One sale deed was executed in the name of a company AK Infosystems Private Limited in which Rabri Devi became a majority shareholder in 2014 and currently one of the directors of the company, the FIR alleged. Lalu Prasad's family allegedly paid Rs 3.75 lakh to Rs 13 lakh for the lands acquired by them which according to circle rates were approximately valued at Rs 4.39 crore, the CBI alleged. Enquiry has revealed that parcel of land which was directly purchased by the family members of Lalu Prasad Yadav from the sellers were purchased at lower rates than the prevailing circle rates," the FIR alleged.

The Central Bureau of Investigation also registered a case against the then Collector, Kankipati Rajesh,an IAS officer -2011 batch Surendranagar District (Gujarat) & others including Proprietor of Surat based private firm and unknown persons & entities on the allegations of demand & receipt of illegal gratification/bribe related to grant of arm licences, allotment of Government land and regularization of encroached Government land in the name of ineligible beneficiaries. A Preliminary enquiry was earlier registered on a request of Gujarat Government in the matter. The instant case is the outcome of the PE. Searches were conducted at the premises of accused in Gandhi Nagar & Surat (Both in Gujarat.