CBI questions Lalu Prasad in land-for-jobs scam case

RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad was on Tuesday questioned by the CBI for around two hours in connection with the land for jobs scam case in which people were allegedly given employment in Railways in lieu of land gifted or sold at cheap rates to his family and associates.

Prasad's questioning came a day after his wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi was quizzed in Patna and two days after his son and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav signed a joined letter by eight Opposition parties against alleged misuse of central agencies against Opposition leaders.

Officials said a CBI team of five officials reached the residence of Prasad's daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Misa Bharti in Pandara Park, near India Gate in the capital, at 10:40 AM and left around 12:55 PM. The questioning, which took place in a room where Prasad is in quarantine after his kidney transplant surgery, was videographed.

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The CBI action comes in a case, which was registered in May last year, where it is alleged that Railway jobs were given to people in 2008-09 when Prasad was Railways Minister in lieu of land. Besides Prasad, his wife Rabri and daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav are named in the FIR along with 12 people who were given jobs in Railways in 2008-09.

The candidates were appointed as substitutes in group D positions within three days of applying in "undue haste" and were later regularised after they transferred land to the Prasad’s family. The transfers were made through three sale deeds in the name of Rabri Devi and one in the name of Misa and two gift deeds in the name of Hema, CBI claimed.

The agency also alleged that land measuring about 1.05 lakh square feet in Patna was acquired by Prasad's family members by making payments to the sellers in cash.

"The current value of the above said seven parcels of land, including the land acquired through gift deeds, as per the existing circle rate is about Rs 4.39 crore.... Enquiry has revealed that the parcel of land, which was directly purchased by the family members of Lalu Prasad from the sellers, was purchased at lower rates than the prevailing circle rates," the FIR has claimed.

The agency has also filed chargesheet in the case against Prasad and 15 others, including Rabi Devi, and all have been summoned on March 15.