The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday alleged that Lalu Prasad Yadav, as Railways Minister, had obtained gratification of over 1 lakh square feet in Patna for giving jobs in group D services.
The CBI on Friday registered fresh case against the former Bihar chief minister and 15 others in which it mentioned that pecuniary benefits too were given to Lalu's family members for jobs in different zones of railways.
The FIR has named Lalu's wife Mrs Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti and Ms Hema Achari, both daughters of Lalu, two officers of Railways and 12 private citizens as accused.
It was alleged in the FIR 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 & gifted their land in Patna in favour of the family members of the said minister and a private company controlled by Lalu's family members, which was also involved in the 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.
The FIR further mentioned that in continuation of this modus operandi, about 1,05,292 sq. feet of land/ immovable properties situated in Patna were acquired by Lalu's family members through sale deeds and gifts deeds, showing the payment made to the seller in cash in most of the land transfer.
Meanwhile, more searches are being conducted at 16 places in Delhi, Patna & District Gopalganj of Bihar while the investigation is ongoing, a CBI spokesperson said.
