Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Wednesday arrived at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Patna after being summoned for questioning in the high-profile land-for-jobs money laundering case. Accompanied by his daughter and RJD leader Misa Bharti, Yadav’s presence ignited a political uproar, with hundreds of party supporters gathering outside the ED premises, staging protests, and raising slogans in his support.
The 76-year-old leader’s appearance marks another chapter in the ongoing investigation, which has already seen multiple family members under scrutiny. The ED had earlier recorded Lalu Yadav’s statement on January 20, 2024, while his son, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, faced questioning on January 30 last year. These summonses have repeatedly triggered fierce political debates in Bihar.
Lalu’s daughter Misa Bharti reaffirmed their cooperation with the probe, while Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha remarked, “One must face the consequences of their actions.”
RJD Under Scrutiny as Probe Deepens
On Tuesday, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and her MLA son Tej Pratap Yadav also appeared before the ED in connection with the case. The federal agency had previously filed a chargesheet against Lalu Yadav’s family members, including Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, and Hema Yadav, accusing them of corruption.
The case revolves around allegations that during his tenure as Union Railway Minister (2004-2009) in the UPA-1 government, Lalu Yadav facilitated railway jobs in exchange for land parcels as bribes. According to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR, candidates were allegedly instructed to transfer their land in return for securing Group D positions in Indian Railways. The ED is probing the money laundering aspect of the scandal, which stems from the original CBI complaint.
