Patna: On Saturday morning, Bailey Road, the heart of Patna, witnessed a political spectacle that overshadowed its usual traffic noise. Saffron flags fluttered as BJP workers gathered outside a three-acre barren plot—the site of Bihar’s largest mall that never came to life.
The 12+2-story mall was to house a five-star hotel, multiplex, shopping complex, and 1,000 shops. Today, however, the land stands as a silent witness to nearly two decades of alleged corruption. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized the land, turning it into a pond filled with stagnant rainwater, where rusty construction machinery lies partially submerged. The once-grand gate of the mall is gone, replaced by a small quilt-stuffing shop, and the ED board warning of the seizure is barely visible amidst overgrown bushes.
BJP leaders used the abandoned site to stage a protest against the RJD, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and his son Tejashwi Yadav. Party spokesperson Ajay Alok said, “This road from this land does not lead to a path of development—it leads to Tihar Jail. This land, purchased for zero rupees, is a symbol of corruption that we will continue to expose.”
Neeraj Kumar, another BJP spokesperson, added, “The land is part of the IRCTC scam, with a market value of Rs 300 crore. A thief’s son is a thief. We won’t let the shadow of corruption touch Bihar.”
The protest was triggered by Tejashwi Yadav’s statement on October 23, asserting that he would punish anyone from his party committing wrongdoing. BJP leaders seized on this “resolve” to highlight the 19-year-old case ahead of elections.
The Allegations
The controversy dates back to 2006, when Lalu Yadav was Union Railway Minister. Key allegations include:
- Hotel Lease: Lalu is accused of leasing two IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri to Sujata Hotels, owned by the Kochhar brothers.
- Land Exchange: The Kochhar brothers allegedly transferred a three-acre Patna plot to Delight Marketing, owned by Sarla Gupta, wife of RJD MP Premchand Gupta.
- Transfer to LARA: Delight Marketing later transferred the land to LARA Projects LLP, involving Lalu-Rabri and sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap.
The land, initially sold for Rs 1.47 crore in 2005 against a circle rate of Rs 1.93 crore, had a market value of Rs 94 crore by 2014. The alleged acquisition of shares for Rs 64 lakh reportedly yielded a profit exceeding Rs 93 crore.
The CBI registered a case on July 5, 2017, and the ED seized the land, valued at Rs 44.75 crore, on May 28, 2018. On October 12, 2025, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court framed charges of corruption, criminal conspiracy, and fraud against Lalu, Rabri, and Tejashwi, noting Lalu as the “fountainhead” and the others as accomplices.
Bailey Road: From VIP Corridor to Symbol of Alleged Corruption
Bailey Road, now Nehru Path, is a VIP stretch connecting Patna to Danapur, flanked by the Patna High Court, Secretariat, Zoo, Airport, and Bihar Museum. Yet, the mall plot, once envisioned as a symbol of modern development, now serves as a political stage where 19-year-old allegations dominate discussions ahead of Bihar’s elections.
The stagnant green water in the 30-foot-deep pit mirrors the political murk surrounding the case, while the BJP’s protests ensure that this plot remains at the center of electoral debates in Patna.
