New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate conducted raids on Tuesday at the premises of RJD MLA Kiran Devi, her husband, former legislator Arun Yadav, and several others. This action is part of a money laundering investigation related to the suspected possession of disproportionate assets, according to official sources cited by news agency PTI. Kiran Devi currently holds the position representing the Sandesh constituency in Bhojpur district, a seat previously won by her husband in the 2015 assembly polls.
Reacting to the development, Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Assembly and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's son, said the raids were proof that the BJP, which rules the Centre, was scared.
"What difference will it make? Whenever ED, CBI and Income Tax work against opposition leaders, you should understand that BJP is scared," he remarked speaking to the media, as quoted by news agency ANI.
According to PTI, when ED officials arrived at Kiran Devi's residence on Tuesday morning, the MLA was not present. Searches were also carried out at properties associated with the MLA in Agiaon, Bhojpur. However, the RJD MLA could not be reached for comments regarding the ED's actions.
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ED Filed Criminal Case Under PMLA Against Arun Yadav, Kiran Devi In 2021
The ED's money laundering case against Arun Yadav and Kiran Devi is based on a total of 16 First Information Reports (FIRs) filed by the Bihar Police across various police stations in the Ara district. The agency initiated a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against the couple in 2021.
As part of this investigation, the ED has previously recorded statements from Arun Yadav and certain family members. Additionally, they have obtained property documents and bank account statements belonging to the Yadav family and a related entity, Kiran Durga Contractors Pvt Ltd, as per PTI.
The investigation revealed that the Yadav family acquired approximately 72 immovable properties, including agricultural lands, flats, and residential plots, with a combined value of Rs 9.90 crore in Ara district and Patna. Additionally, they allegedly made cash deposits totaling Rs 20.5 crore between 2002-03 and 2021-22. These assets and cash deposits, held by the Arun Yadav family and associated entities, are purportedly disproportionate to their known and legal sources of income, reported PTI.
Arun Yadav is under scrutiny by central probe agencies in relation to the land-for-job scam case involving RJD leader Lalu Prasad and his family members. Both Yadav and Kiran Devi are also being probed by ED in connection with the illegal sand mining case and the agency. They had conducted raids on them last year as part of these two investigations. Meanwhile, when journalists approached Tejashwi Yadav, who is currently on a state-wide Jan Vishwas Yatra, for comments regarding the raids, he responded by saying, "It is going to make no difference", as per PTI.