The federal agency quizzed Lalu at its Patna office on Wednesday. Lalu’s wife Rabri Devi, former chief minister of Bihar and their son Tej Pratap Yadav were questioned by the ED on Tuesday.
According to agency sources, after filing the supplementary prosecution complaint, ED will push for commencement of trial against Lalu and co-accused in the case. “This will be the last prosecution complaint following which we would argue on framing of charges against the accused so that the trial can be kickstarted. This is one of the top priority cases for the agency,” said a senior official.
According to agency sources, Lalu, Rabri and Tej Pratap were again summoned by the agency to confront them with the supplementary charge sheet recently filed by the CBI. In its latest charge sheet, the CBI had referred to five more parcels of land allegedly usurped by Lalu and his kin in lieu of jobs given to railway employees.
Following CBI’s recent revelations, the ED also quizzed Lalu and his kin pertaining to the five land parcels, said people in the know. But Lalu and his kin have denied the accusations levelled against them.
As reported by ET earlier this month, CBI is likely to commence arguments on framing of charges against Lalu and others in May, following which the accused will present their counter to the court against framing of charges. The court, after examining the arguments and counter arguments, will decide on whether to frame charges against the accused and kickstart the trial.In September, the Ministry of Home Affairs had sanctioned Lalu’s prosecution in the case. Later, CBI had also received sanction against nearly 30 co-accused, all government officials, from relevant authorities.The CBI, in its charge sheet, has described Lalu, his wife and son Tejashwi Yadav as “ultimate beneficiaries” in the land-for-jobs case. All three have denied the allegations against them.
The CBI had earlier received a nod to prosecute Lalu for his alleged involvement in the case. It had previously filed two charge sheets elaborating his alleged role in illegal recruitment in two railway zones – central and western. The CBI filed its final and composite charge sheet, including all the remaining railway zones. Lalu and other public servants were also charged in the final charge sheet.
The ED has attached properties of Lalu’s family, worth ₹6 crore, in connection with the alleged scandal. The properties attached by the federal agency include the family’s Delhi and Patna property, including a residential house in New Friends Colony.
