ED makes big allegations against Lalu Yadav in Land for Job scam, says he is the master of the scam

ED Charge Sheet: In the case of Land for Job scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has claimed in its charge sheet that former Chief Minister of Bihar and RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is the main conspirator of this scam. In the charge sheet, ED claimed that the then Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family took pieces of PR land as bribe from people in the name of providing jobs in Railways.

It is alleged in the charge sheet that the land acquired through crime is in the possession of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family and the conspiracy of the scam was hatched in such a way that his family has control over the land acquired through crime but the land is not directly linked to Lalu Yadav and his family. . According to the charge sheet, to divert the proceeds of crime i.e. the income earned from crime, many units (shell companies) were opened and lands were registered in their names.

Lalu Yadav himself used to decide who would get job in railways in exchange for land.

During the investigation of the conspiracy, it was revealed that Lalu Prasad Yadav himself was deciding the railway job and taking PR land in his name as bribe, his family and close friend Amit Katyal were supporting him in this. Along with this, many pieces of land taken as bribe were such that they were exactly equal to the land of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family, which were purchased at throwaway prices.

Lands are also linked to Rabri Devi

Lalu’s family and their associated companies have acquired about seven lands from the proceeds of crime, which are located in Mahua Bagh, Patna. Of these, four lands are directly and indirectly linked to Rabri Devi. Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has an old association with Mahua Bagh village of Danapur as it is located near the Government Veterinary College, Patna, where Lalu Prasad Yadav and other members of his family used to live in 1976.

Lalu Yadav was familiar with the land owners

Lalu Prasad Yadav was personally acquainted with Julumdhari Rai (brother of Hazari Rai), Kishun Dev Rai (who sold the piece of land to Rabri Devi), Shalal Babu Rai and other persons, who were old residents of this village. Moreover, the connection of Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members is evident in view of the fact that Rabri Devi had purchased a piece of land in plot number 1547 in Mahua Bagh in 1990 under sale deed number 1993.

With the aim of taking commercial benefits from this piece of land, he through his OSD Bhola Yadav identified the surrounding lands and offered the land to the owners of these lands in return for appointing their family members in the Indian Railways. Agreed to sell at quarter price.

These lands were transferred either directly in the name of the family members of Lalalu Prasad Yadav or indirectly in the name of M/s AK Infosystems Private Limited or the staff members of Rabri Devi i.e. Hridayanand Chaudhary and Shallan Chaudhary.

Bhola Yadav accepted the deal

Bhola Yadav has admitted in his statement given under Section 50 of PMLA, 2002 that he was the OSD of the then Railway Minister Shalu Prasad Yadav. Apart from this, Bhola Yadav said that the above gift deal took place at Lalu Prasad’s Patna residence (10, Circular Road, Patna). The appointment of Bhola Yadav as OSD to the Railway Minister was confirmed by various orders issued by the Railway Ministry as well as the CBI charge sheet.

Lalu Prasad Yadav’s personal staff were present as witnesses in the gift deal of Rabri Devi workers buying a piece of land and later gifting it to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter. Proves a criminal conspiracy hatched against Lalu Prasad Yadav to obtain POC i.e. proceeds of crime (land) for his family members.

This transaction was presented as a gift from distant relatives. However contrary to the claim, Misa Bharti during her statement on 25.03.2023 denied knowing the so-called relatives Hridayanand Choudhary and Lallan Choudhary.

Transfer of properties under conspiracy

According to the conspiracy, after acquisition of immovable properties in the company AK Infosystem, Amit Katyal transferred 100% shareholding in the company AK Infosystem on 13-06-2014 to Rabri Devi (85%) and Tejasvi Prasad Yadav (15%) respectively, thereby making both M/s. Became the owner of the land owned by AK Infosystems Private Limited.

Thus, the assets of the company M/s AK Infosystems Private Limited are Rs 1.89 crore (as per the balance sheet of the company). It was taken over by the ultimate beneficiaries of the “proceeds of crime” i.e. Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family members by paying a nominal price of Rs 1 lakh.

What did Lalu Yadav tell during interrogation?

Lalu Prasad Yadav told during interrogation that he had no information about any land purchased by M/s AK Infosystems Private Limited. Lalu also told that his family members including his wife, son and daughters do not know Amit Katyal. Not only this, he also denied having any information about the appointment of his family members as directors-shareholders in various companies linked to Amit Katyal.

Lalu Prasad Yadav also told that he has never heard the name of M/s AK Infosystems Private Limited and he has no information regarding this company. Lalu also denied having any knowledge about the transfer of shareholding of M/s AK Infosystems Pvt Ltd to his family members i.e. Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav.

What conclusion did ED draw regarding Lalu Prasad Yadav investigation?

When Lalu Prasad Yadav was asked about the appointment of Group D in Indian Railways, he hid his role by holding the General Manager of the concerned Railway Zone responsible for the entire recruitment process.

Lalu Prasad Yadav, along with his family members/associates Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Hema Yadav and Amit Katyal, used M/s AK Infosystems Pvt. Ltd. or his staff members like Hridayanand Chaudhary or Lalan to launder the proceeds of crime. Conspired to hide his involvement in land purchase or transaction through Chaudhary.

Attempting to hide his involvement in the job-for-land scam, Lalu Prasad Yadav during his statement on 29.01.2024 claimed that Bhola Yadav never worked as his OSD during his tenure, whereas Bhola Yadav had admitted in his statement to being his OSD.

What did Tejashwi Yadav tell?

In which Tejashwi Yadav said that M/s AK Infosystem Private Limited and M/s AB Exports Private Limited companies are not involved in any business activities. He has never received a salary from any of these companies. Tejashwi told that he knew Amit Katyal since 2007 and they had met at a function and IPL parties organized in New Delhi.

Tejashwi said that he has not received any salary for working as a director and has not done any business with the companies. When asked about the board meetings, he said that there is no business activity in both the companies and he does not remember any details of the board meetings for the last 8 years.

In the charge sheet, ED said that Tejashwi Prasad Yadav deliberately used these companies to receive the proceeds of crime and D-1088, New Friends Colony is also a part of this. Tejashwi Prasad Yadav himself confessed during interrogation that he had invested money in the construction and other expenses of D-1088, New Friends Colony, New Delhi.

Also read: Land for Job Scam: Lalu Prasad Yadav’s troubles increase! Home Ministry gave approval to CBI to run the case