ED Claims Lalu Prasad as Key Conspirator in ‘Land for Jobs’ Scam

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has identified former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav as the chief conspirator in the ‘Land for Jobs’ scam, according to a supplementary charge sheet filed on Friday. The ED alleges that Lalu Prasad and his family accepted pieces of land as bribes in exchange for jobs in the Indian Railways.

The charge sheet claims that Lalu Prasad orchestrated the scam in such a way that while his family would retain control over the lands acquired through illegal means, the ownership would not be directly linked to them. To conceal this, the family is said to have created shell companies to launder the illicit funds and register the land under different names.

Recently, the Rouse Avenue Court issued summons to Lalu Prasad, as well as his sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, in connection with the case. According to the ED’s investigation, Lalu Prasad personally decided to accept land as a bribe for railway jobs, aided by his family and close associate, Amit Katyal.

The ED further claims that the scam led to the acquisition of several land parcels near Lalu Prasad’s family properties, purchased at extremely low prices. These properties are located in Mahua Bagh, Patna, where Lalu Prasad has long-held connections.

The investigation revealed that seven parcels of land were transferred to Lalu Prasad’s family and companies associated with them, including AK Infosystems Pvt. Ltd. The ED alleges that this company transferred 85% of its shares to Rabri Devi and 15% to Tejashwi Yadav in 2014, granting them ownership of property worth Rs 1.89 crore for a mere Rs 1 lakh.

The ED questioned Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav in January 2024, grilling the former minister for over 10 hours. More than 50 questions were posed, with Lalu Yadav reportedly becoming irritated during the interrogation. Tejashwi Yadav also faced extended questioning, lasting between 10 to 11 hours.

The charge sheet outlines seven specific land-for-jobs deals, each involving the transfer of land to Lalu Prasad’s family members in exchange for railway jobs for the sellers’ relatives. In many cases, the land was acquired at significantly below-market prices. The transactions span from 2005 to 2015 and involved properties in Patna and other regions.

For instance, in one case, 3,375 square feet of land was transferred to Rabri Devi for just Rs 3.75 lakh, with the seller’s relatives subsequently securing jobs in Central Railway, Mumbai. In another deal, 80,905 square feet of land was sold to Lalu Yadav’s daughter Misa Bharti for Rs 3.70 lakh, with the seller’s son later getting a job in the railway department.

The ED alleges that Lalu Prasad’s family strategically positioned themselves to acquire these lands through shell companies and gift deeds, often at prices far below the actual market value.

The ED’s investigation continues, with further developments expected as the case progresses. The court’s summons to Lalu Prasad, Tejashwi, and Tej Pratap Yadav signals the ongoing scrutiny surrounding their involvement in the scam.