Mumbai: Enforcement Directorate has disclosed that an independent four-storied bungalow situated at D-1088, New Friends Colony, Delhi registered in the name of M/s A B Exports Private Limited, owned and controlled by Bihar minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav was shown to have been acquired at a value of mere Rs 4 Lakhs whose market value was over Rs 150 Crore.
The financial crime investigating agency suspects that huge amount of cash from proceeds of Crime was infused in purchasing the property with few Mumbai based entities dealing in the gems and jewellery used to channel for money laundering. The property declared as office of M/s A B Exports Private Limited and M/s AK Infosystems Pvt ltd is exclusively used as residential premises by Tejasvi Prasad Yadav.
Lalu Prasad's family, including his wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi allegdely "sold four such land parcels illegally acquired at the cost of Rs 7.5 lakh to a company called Meridian Construction India Ltd, owned and controlled" by former RJD MLA Syed Abu Dojana, for a "consideration" amount of Rs 3.5 crore.
“A major portion of the amount was transferred to the account of Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. Lands were taken from several poor parents and candidates in lieu of Group D jobs in the Railways and more than 50% of recruited candidates were from Lalu Yadav families’ constituencies,” ED has alleged.
ED conducted simultaneous searches at 24 locations at various places in Delhi NCR, Patna, Mumbai and Ranchi in the Railways Land for Job Scam resulting in recovery of unaccounted cash of Rs 1 Crore, foreign currency of USD 1900, 540 gms gold bullion and more than 1.5 kg of gold jewellery of Rs 1.25 Crores with several other incriminating documents of various property documents, sale deeds etc held in the names of family members and fictitious fronts (benami).
Searches resulted in detection of Rs 600 Crore in the form of immovable properties of Rs 350 Crore and transactions of Rs 250 Crore routed through various fictitious firms and individuals. ED has alleged investments were made on behalf of Lalu Yadav’s family and their associates in various sectors, including real estate at various places.
“PMLA investigation conducted so far has revealed that several pieces of land at prominent locations in Patna and other areas were illegally acquired by the family of former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in lieu of jobs provided in Railways. The current market value of these land parcels is more than ₹ 200 Crore. Several fictitious, shell companies and beneficial owners for these lands have been identified,” ED said in a statement.
About land-for-jobs scam
The alleged scam pertains to the time when Lalu Prasad was the railway minister in the UPA government. It was alleged that during the period, 2004-09, various persons were appointed to Group D positions in various railway zones in Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur and Hajipur, in exchange for their land handed over to family members of Lalu Prasad, the then minister of railways, and A K Infosystems Pvt Ltd for a heavily discounted price.
Ragini Yadav and Chanda Yadav were ex-directors in A K Infosystems Pvt Ltd, which allegedly received a land parcel from a candidate.
Hema Yadav is alleged to be a "beneficiary" of two land parcels, received in lieu of jobs in the Indian Railways, the sources said. Katyal, according to the ED, is a "close associate" of Lalu Prasad, as well as an ex-director of A K Infosystems Pvt Ltd.
