CBI questions Lalu Prasad in land-for-jobs scam case
The Hindu
“The examination of the Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo comes a day after his wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi was quizzed at her Patna residence by the Agency for nearly five hours,” they said.
“The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on March 7 started questioning former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in connection with the land-for-jobs scam case where people were allegedly given jobs in the Railways in return for land parcels gifted or sold at cheap rates to the Yadav family and associates,” officials said.
“The examination of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo comes a day after his wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi was quizzed at her Patna residence by the Agency for nearly five hours,” they said.
According to officials, a team of five CBI officials arrived in two cars at 10.40 a.m. at the residence of Misha Bharti in Pandara Park on March 7 where Lalu Prasad is currently residing and the questioning will continue during the day.
The CBI has already filed a charge sheet in the case against Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi and 14 others under charges of criminal conspiracy and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, in which all the accused have been summoned on March 15, they said.
They said a fresh round of questioning is taking place as part of "further investigation" where the investigation agency is trying to ascertain the money trail and larger conspiracy.
The fresh questioning of ailing Lalu Prasad, who was convicted in a fodder scam, and his wife had evoked sharp criticism from the Opposition parties on March 6. Mr. Prasad's son and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav termed the CBI action a result of his family's "relentless opposition" to the Bharatiya Janata Party.