Land-For-Jobs Scam: CBI Team Reaches Former Bihar CM Rabri Devi's Residence

A team from the Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday morning reached at former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi's residence,

CBI team reaches Rabri Devi's residence.

Source : Getty Images

New Delhi: A team from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday morning reached former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi's residence in connection with land-for-jobs scam. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Rabri's son Tejashwi Yadav was also present when the federal probe agency's team reached the former Bihar CM's residence. 

A CBI official, however, said that Rabri set today's date for questioning at her residence and that the agency did not "barge in".

"Few days ago CBI summoned former Bihar CM Rabri Devi and she herself decided Monday, March 6 as the date of questioning at her residence. It's not that CBI barged in," said the official to news agency ANI. 

Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, and Misa Bharti were issued summons by the Rouse Avenue court. Based on CBI's chargesheet, the court had asked them to appear on March 15, but the CBI team reached Rabri's residence before the date.

On May 18, the CBI filed an FIR against 17 people including Lalu Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and daughter Misa Bharti over land-for-jobs scam and submitted a chargesheet in connection with the same. 

What Is Land-For-Jobs Scam?

It has been alleged that between 2004 and 2009 when Lalu Prasad Yadav was Union Railway Minister, lands and plots were taken in lieu of providing jobs in the railways. 

In its probe, the CBI found that the accused, in connivance with the then General Manager of Central Railway and CPO of Central Railway had appointed persons in their name or their close relatives in lieu of land. The land was acquired at a price lower than the prevailing circle rate and much lower than the market rate.

According to the CBI, during the period from 2004 to 2009, Lalu Prasad had obtained land in the name of his family members and received pecuniary benefits from the candidates in exchange for jobs in Group D posts in various zones of the Railways.

Several persons residing in Patna themselves or through their family members had sold their land in Patna in favour of Prasad's family members and a private company controlled by his family was also involved in the transfer of such immovable properties.

It has also been alleged that advertisement or any public notice was not issued for recruitment in Railways. Still, those who were residents of Patna were appointed as substitutes in various Zonal Railways located at Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur and Hajipur.

The federal probe agency said that in this case 1,05,292 feet of land in Patna was acquired by the family members of Lalu Prasad Yadav by paying cash to the vendors.