Trouble could return for Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav as a new chargesheet filed in the land for jobs scam has been approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday informed Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court that approval has been obtained from the Ministry of Home Affairs in connection with a fresh charge sheet against former Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in the alleged land for jobs scam case, as per an ANI report.
The federal probe agency also said that the approval has not been received against three railway officials. The remaining approval is expected within a week, it added.
The matter has now been listed for further hearing on September 21, the report added.
The alleged land for jobs scam pertains back to the time when Lalu Prasad was the railway minister between 2004 and 2009. It has been alleged that during his tenure as railway minister, Lalu Prasad’s family took land as gift or bought at lower prices from those who were recruited in the railway department.
A CBI probe is underway in the matter and the Enforcement Directorate is investigating aspects of the case relating to money laundering.
A second charge sheet filed in connection with the case in July this year named Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Lalu Prasad’s son, Tejashwi Yadav as one of the accused. It was the first time that Yadav was named as an accused in the matter which invited reactions and counter statements from political parties.
Janata Dal (United) national president Lalan Singh said that Tejashwi Yadav was already anticipating this and called him "a very strong person."
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party has been aggressively targeting the leaders of Bihar’s ruling alliance.
Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Modi said that after the Enforcement Directorate's action of confiscating property in the matter, Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav should tell how they own property worth about Rs 100 crore.
He also targeted Bihar CM Nitish Kumar saying instead of maintaining silence in the matter, he should seek point-wise answers from Tejashwi Yadav.