Rs 1 crore unaccounted cash found in raids on Lalu family: ED

The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday revealed that Rs 1 crore of unaccounted cash has been seized in the raids against Lalu Prasad's family members in the land-for-jobs case.

Another Rs 600 crore in proceeds of crime have been detected in the raids while an investigation is underway to unearth more investments made on behalf of Lalu Prasad's family in real estate and other sectors, news agency PTI reported.

It said the investigation is underway to unearth more investments made on behalf of Prasad's family and their associates in various sectors, including real estate, at various places.

The ED had launched raids on Friday at multiple locations linked to Prasad's family members including that of his son and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav in Delhi.

What is 'Land For Jobs' Scam case?

The alleged scam took place when Lalu Prasad Yadav served as Union Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009 under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

The RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad, his wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi and his daughters Misa and Hema Yadav were allegedly given land plots as bribes by some individuals hired by the Railways in 2008-2009, in addition to 12 individuals who were given jobs in the Railway zones of Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Hajipur, according to the CBI.

According to CBI investigations, Lalu's family purchased about 1.05 lakh sq ft of land in Patna in this manner for merely Rs 26 lakh, despite the fact that the land's actual value is estimated to be more than Rs 4.39 crore and in most cases payment to the sellers was shown in cash.

On September 23, 2021, the central agency initiated a preliminary investigation into the Railway's land-for-jobs fraud.

The CBI has filed a charge sheet in the case against Lalu Prasad, his wife and 14 others under charges of criminal conspiracy and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and all the accused have been summoned on March 15, officials had said. The ED case, filed under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, stems from this CBI complaint.

The CBI had earlier arrested Bhola Yadav, former Officer on Special Duty to the then Railway Minister and the Railway employee, Hridayanand Choudhary, for their alleged role. Another "beneficiary" named Dharmendra Rai was arrested previously. Tejashwi Yadav has denied the allegations and has said that they are politically motivated.

The case is currently being investigated by India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).