Lalu Prasad Faces Extensive ED Interrogation In Land-for-Jobs Scam; Daughter Misa Claims 'PM Is Scared'

Questioned for approximately nine hours by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Land for Jobs scam case, Lalu Prasad Yadav, chief of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), faced criticism from his daughter Misa Bharti.

She asserted that the actions taken by the probe agency against her father indicate that the central government is 'afraid' of him.

Photo Credit: PTI

Lalu's Daughter Alleges Political Vendetta

A significant gathering of RJD workers was present as the RJD supremo emerged from the probe agency's office in Patna. "He (Lalu) cannot eat himself, someone will have to feed him. We do not know whether he has eaten or not. No ED official is ready to speak...Since elections are near, the PM is scared and will do such things only. This government can (arrest) my father also, but what will they get by arresting a sick man," was stated by Misa, reported ANI.

Earlier today, Lalu Yadav arrived at the office of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) here for questioning in connection with the alleged Land for Job scam. A large number of RJD workers were present outside the office to protest the questioning of their party's national president.

An RJD worker said that the Central government is harassing their leader in a bid to prevent them from making strategies for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. "These people do not have any other weapon. The government is harassing these people for the upcoming elections of 2024 so that they are not able to make strategies," she said.

"The more Lalu Yadav is being harassed, the stronger the workers are becoming. None of us is afraid," the RJD supporter added. Manoj Kumar Jha, RJD Rajya Sabha MP, has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politically targeting its rivals using government agencies. "This is not an ED summon, but a BJP summon. This will go on till 2024; until then, please do not call it ED summons. Why should we be scared?" Jha said, according to ANI.

BJP Alleges Deep Corruption in RJD

The claim that corruption runs deep in the RJD was made by the BJP, which, on Sunday, became part of the state government after Nitish Kumar switched sides. State Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chowdhary urged Tejashwi Yadav to inform the youth of Bihar about the system of becoming millionaires within one and a half years.

Lalu Yadav's daughter, Misa Bharti, alleged on Monday that she was prevented from entering the office of the Enforcement Directorate along with her ailing father, who had undergone a kidney transplant surgery. Lalu is being quizzed for his alleged involvement in the Land for Job scam.

The CBI filed the chargesheet in October last year against former Bihar chief ministers Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, their daughter Misa Bharti, and 13 others in the land-for-jobs scam. According to the CBI, the people were first recruited as substitutes in Group D posts in the Railways and were regularized when their families made a land deal.

The CBI is probing the allegations of taking land for a bribe in lieu of a job in the Railways. At the same time, ED is investigating the case of money laundering. The CBI also filed a chargesheet in this case.