New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in its supplementary charge sheet filed in the Land for Job case claimed that the then Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family took 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. ED alleges that Lalu Prasad Yadav hatched the conspiracy in such a way that his family has control over the land acquired through crime but the land is not directly linked to him and his family.
Many shell companies were opened
According to the charge sheet, many shell companies were opened and lands were registered in their names to siphon off the proceeds of crime. During the investigation, it was revealed that Lalu Prasad Yadav himself was deciding to take railway job and land in his name as bribe, his family and close friend Amit Katyal were supporting him in this. Many pieces of land were taken as bribe. Which was located exactly adjacent to the land of Lalu Prasad Yadav's family. These lands were purchased at throwaway prices. Lalu's family and their associated companies have acquired around seven pieces of land from the proceeds of crime which are located in Mahua Bagh, Patna, out of which four lands are directly and indirectly related to Rabri Devi.
Old connection with Mahua Bagh village
According to the charge sheet, 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 Prasad Yadav was personally acquainted with Julumdhari Rai (brother of Hazari Rai), Kishun Dev Rai (who sold the piece of land to Rabri Devi), Lal 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 the year 1990 under sale deed number 1993.
Identification of lands through OSD Bhola Yadav
With the aim of consolidating this piece of land and getting commercial benefits, Lalu Prasad Yadav through his OSD Bhola Yadav identified the surrounding lands and asked the owners of these lands to give appointment to their family members in the Indian Railways. In return, he agreed to sell the land at throwaway prices. These lands were transferred either directly in the name of the family members of Lalu Prasad Yadav or indirectly in the name of M/s AK Infosystems Private Limited or staff members of Rabri Devi i.e. Hridayanand Chaudhary and Lalan Chaudhary.
When Lalu Prasad Yadav was questioned about his daughter getting land worth crores of rupees as a gift, he clearly refused to comment on it and refused to comment on the land transactions related to this matter. According to the charge sheet, Rabri Devi's workers bought pieces of land and later gifted the same to Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter, Lalu Prasad Yadav's personal employees were present as witnesses in the gift deed, Lalu Prasad Yadav signed the same with his family members. For POC, it proves a criminal conspiracy to obtain the proceeds of crime (land).
Shown as a gift from relatives
According to the charge sheet this transaction was presented as a gift received from distant relatives, however contrary to the claim, Misa Bharti during her statement on 25.03.2023 denied knowing the so-called relatives Hridayanand Chaudhary and Lallan Chaudhary
According to the conspiracy, after acquisition of immovable properties in the said company AK Infosystem, Amit Katyal on 13-06-2014 transferred the property to Rabri Devi (85%) and Tejashwi Prasad Yadav (15%), who are the wife and son of Lalu Prasad Yadav respectively. , transferred 100% shareholding to M/s A.K. Infosystems Private Limited became the owner of the existing land.
Thus, the company M/s A.K. Infosystems Private Limited, which had assets worth Rs 1.89 crore (as per the company's balance sheet), was taken over by the ultimate beneficiaries of the “proceeds of crime” i.e. Lalu Prasad Yadav's family members for a nominal price of Rs 1 lakh.
Name of M/s AK Infosystems Private Limited not heard
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.
Image Credit: India-Tv.