The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday (March 9) arrested Subhash Yadav, a renowned Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and close associate of Lalu Prasad Yadav, in connection with illegal sand mining activities. He was produced before the court on Sunday and was sent to Judicial Custody. The arrest follows a 14-hour raid at eight locations linked to the RJD leader.
Yadav is likely to be produced before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Patna on Monday, news agency PTI reported citing sources.
The ED's actions stem from a probe initiated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on 20 FIRs filed by the Bihar Police against M/s Broadsons Commodities Pvt Ltd (BCPL), directed by Subhash Yadav. BCPL was accused of engaging in illegal sand mining and sale without using e-challans, raising environmental and revenue concerns.
According to a report by NDTV, the PMLA investigation revealed ₹161 crore generated through the illegal sand trade, allegedly controlled by a syndicate.
Subhash Yadav, a key figure in this syndicate, was arrested after searches at six locations in Patna linked to him and his associates uncovered cash exceeding ₹2.3 crore and incriminating documents, the report said.
The ED's crackdown on Subhash Yadav follows similar actions against other alleged members of the sand mining syndicate, including JD(U) leader and Bihar Legislative Council member Radha Charan Sah and his son.
Beyond his political affiliations with the RJD, Subhash Yadav contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In addition to the ED, the Income Tax Department has conducted raids at Subhash Yadav's residence.
Such People Are Money Laundering Machines For RJD Chief: Sushil Modi
In response to the developments, BJP leader Sushil Modi told Hindi newspapers, "Whenever central agencies like the Income Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate, and Central Bureau of Investigation touch any money laundering operation of Lal Yadav, black money worth crores is detected. People like Subhash Yadav are like money laundering machines for RJD chief".
He criticised the opposition alliance for questioning the investigations instead of addressing corruption concerns.
Sushil Modi also highlighted that Subhash Yadav had purchased three flats of Rabri Devi in a single day for Rs 1 crore 72 lakh on June 13, 2017, to keep Rabri Devi's property off the investigative radar. He noted that RJD had fielded Subhash Yadav in the 2019 parliamentary elections, and three companies, including Broadson Private Limited, had the backing of Lalu Prasad and Premchand Gupta.