News Analysis India

Tag: Lalu Prasad Yadav

  • JD(U) giving political colour to ED’s action against Lalu’s family, says BJP’s Sushil Modi

    Express News Service

    PATNA: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday accused Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and JD(U) president Lalan Singh of giving political colour to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) action against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and his family in connection with land-for-job scam.

    BJP MP and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said that JD(U) leaders were trying to give political colour to the operation launched by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and ED against Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and deputy chief minister son Tejashwi Yadav to divert people’s attention from corruption charges levelled against them.

    Referring to the ED’s search operation and Lalu’s allegations that his pregnant daughter-in-law Rajshree Yadav was harassed, Sushil said that the question of harassing anybody during the operation didn’t arise.

    When she (Rajshree, wife of Tejashwi) and ‘nati-natini’ (grandsons and granddaughters) are not accused in the IRCTC scam case, the question of investigation didn’t arise, he remarked.

    “RJD chief is playing emotional card by spreading rumours about his daughter-in-law’s torture by the central agency to take political mileage,” he asserted.

    Moreover, the BJP leader said that Nitish should formulate a policy that no pregnant woman will be questioned by any investigating agency even if charges levelled against her were serious in nature.

    ALSO READ | Rs 1 cr cash, Rs 600 cr crime proceeds found in raids on Lalu’s family: ED

    The former deputy chief minister also sought to know how Lalu’s family acquired property worth Rs.600 crore, which came to light during an investigation carried out by central agencies.

    Tejashwi should explain how he became the owner of his New Friends’ Colony residence worth Rs.200 crore when he had no other sources of income, he added.

    The BJP MP also questioned why Hridayanand Choudhary and Lallan Choudhary gifted property at a prime location to Lalu’s daughter Hema Yadav. The property was later sold off for Rs.350 crore. Earlier, Lalu and his wife Rabri were interrogated by CBI in connection with the land-for-jobs scam.

    During the search operation, Modi claimed that Rs.1 crore in cash besides one and a half kilogram of gold jewellery and half kilogram of gold biscuit were seized from the residential premises of Lalu’s family members on Friday. Altogether 24 locations in Patna, Mumbai, Ranchi and New Delhi were simultaneously searched.

    PATNA: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday accused Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and JD(U) president Lalan Singh of giving political colour to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) action against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and his family in connection with land-for-job scam.

    BJP MP and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said that JD(U) leaders were trying to give political colour to the operation launched by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and ED against Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and deputy chief minister son Tejashwi Yadav to divert people’s attention from corruption charges levelled against them.

    Referring to the ED’s search operation and Lalu’s allegations that his pregnant daughter-in-law Rajshree Yadav was harassed, Sushil said that the question of harassing anybody during the operation didn’t arise.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    When she (Rajshree, wife of Tejashwi) and ‘nati-natini’ (grandsons and granddaughters) are not accused in the IRCTC scam case, the question of investigation didn’t arise, he remarked.

    “RJD chief is playing emotional card by spreading rumours about his daughter-in-law’s torture by the central agency to take political mileage,” he asserted.

    Moreover, the BJP leader said that Nitish should formulate a policy that no pregnant woman will be questioned by any investigating agency even if charges levelled against her were serious in nature.

    ALSO READ | Rs 1 cr cash, Rs 600 cr crime proceeds found in raids on Lalu’s family: ED

    The former deputy chief minister also sought to know how Lalu’s family acquired property worth Rs.600 crore, which came to light during an investigation carried out by central agencies.

    Tejashwi should explain how he became the owner of his New Friends’ Colony residence worth Rs.200 crore when he had no other sources of income, he added.

    The BJP MP also questioned why Hridayanand Choudhary and Lallan Choudhary gifted property at a prime location to Lalu’s daughter Hema Yadav. The property was later sold off for Rs.350 crore. Earlier, Lalu and his wife Rabri were interrogated by CBI in connection with the land-for-jobs scam.

    During the search operation, Modi claimed that Rs.1 crore in cash besides one and a half kilogram of gold jewellery and half kilogram of gold biscuit were seized from the residential premises of Lalu’s family members on Friday. Altogether 24 locations in Patna, Mumbai, Ranchi and New Delhi were simultaneously searched.

  • Lalu reaping what he sowed: BJP leaders on CBI team at Rabri Devi’s residence

    By PTI

    PATNA: BJP leaders in Bihar on Monday asserted that the Central Bureau of Investigation was “doing its job as an independent agency” in cases against RJD president Lalu Prasad who was “reaping what he had sown”.

    Leaders of the saffron party, which is in opposition in the state but in power at the Centre, were approached with queries on a CBI team reaching the residence of Rabri Devi, Prasad’s wife and a former CM herself.

    Officials said that a CBI team visited the residence of former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi in connection with “further probe” in the land for jobs scam case. There is no search or raid taking place, they said.

    The CBI team reached 10, Circular Road, a stone’s throw from the official residence of the chief minister and the Raj Bhavan in connection with a case pertaining to the period when Prasad was the railway minister, in the UPA-1 government.

    “Lalu Prasad’s brush with CBI has been long. The fodder scam cases, in which he has been convicted, were lodged much before the BJP came into the picture,” said senior BJP leader and former state minister Nitin Nabin.

    He pointed out “the fodder scam cases were registered when the Centre was ruled by the United Front, of which he was a part. The complainants included Shivanand Tiwary, now his party’s national vice president, and Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan, who heads the JD(U), his current ally”.

    Jibesh Kumar Mishra, another BJP leader and ex-minister, said, “Lalu Prasad got first convicted in a fodder scam case in 2013, when the Congress-led UPA, of which his party was a part, ruled the Centre”.

    “The CBI is an independent agency and doing its job. Allegations of political vendetta are baseless. Lalu Prasad and his family are reaping what he has sown (jaisi karni vaisi bharni),” the BJP leader added.

    The officials said the CBI had already filed its charge sheet in the land for jobs scam case and the special court summoned the accused, including Prasad and his family members and others on March 15.

    The agency has kept the further probe open into the alleged scam, they said.

    The visit of the CBI team is in connection with further investigation in the case, they added.

    PATNA: BJP leaders in Bihar on Monday asserted that the Central Bureau of Investigation was “doing its job as an independent agency” in cases against RJD president Lalu Prasad who was “reaping what he had sown”.

    Leaders of the saffron party, which is in opposition in the state but in power at the Centre, were approached with queries on a CBI team reaching the residence of Rabri Devi, Prasad’s wife and a former CM herself.

    Officials said that a CBI team visited the residence of former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi in connection with “further probe” in the land for jobs scam case. There is no search or raid taking place, they said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The CBI team reached 10, Circular Road, a stone’s throw from the official residence of the chief minister and the Raj Bhavan in connection with a case pertaining to the period when Prasad was the railway minister, in the UPA-1 government.

    “Lalu Prasad’s brush with CBI has been long. The fodder scam cases, in which he has been convicted, were lodged much before the BJP came into the picture,” said senior BJP leader and former state minister Nitin Nabin.

    He pointed out “the fodder scam cases were registered when the Centre was ruled by the United Front, of which he was a part. The complainants included Shivanand Tiwary, now his party’s national vice president, and Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan, who heads the JD(U), his current ally”.

    Jibesh Kumar Mishra, another BJP leader and ex-minister, said, “Lalu Prasad got first convicted in a fodder scam case in 2013, when the Congress-led UPA, of which his party was a part, ruled the Centre”.

    “The CBI is an independent agency and doing its job. Allegations of political vendetta are baseless. Lalu Prasad and his family are reaping what he has sown (jaisi karni vaisi bharni),” the BJP leader added.

    The officials said the CBI had already filed its charge sheet in the land for jobs scam case and the special court summoned the accused, including Prasad and his family members and others on March 15.

    The agency has kept the further probe open into the alleged scam, they said.

    The visit of the CBI team is in connection with further investigation in the case, they added.

  • Lalu Prasad’s daughter Rohini strongly bats for special status to Bihar

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Rohini Acharaya, 40, is not in the mood to enter politics now, but bats for special status to Bihar. She hopes that the Modi government will work closely with the Bihar government for the state’s development. Rohini is one the daughters of RJD national president Lalu Prasad Yadav. 

    She also became a household name after she donated one of her kidneys to her ailing father. Moved at this act of her, many leaders of the BJP coming above party lines, had hailed her decision. A BJP leader had tweeted that if God gives him a daughter, she should be like Rohini Acharya. Talking to this newspaper, she said: “There is no plan to join politics. I am happily settled in Singapore with my kids. Also, I have no immediate plans of coming back to India as my children are in school in Singapore.”

    When asked what made her to donate one of her kidneys to her father, she said that her kidney was just ‘a small chunk of flesh’ that she donated to her father as a farz (duty) of a daughter. Speaking about the political future of her brother Tejashwi Yadav, she said that Tejashwi is serving the people sincerely. “I am confident that he will continue to serve the people of Bihar and India in future,” she said.

    She also batted for special status for Bihar strongly. “I would like Bihar to get special status from the centre as soon as possible which will help accelerate development of Bihar. I want to see Bihar regain its lost glory of once being the ‘education hub of India’,” she added.

    NEW DELHI:  Rohini Acharaya, 40, is not in the mood to enter politics now, but bats for special status to Bihar. She hopes that the Modi government will work closely with the Bihar government for the state’s development. Rohini is one the daughters of RJD national president Lalu Prasad Yadav. 

    She also became a household name after she donated one of her kidneys to her ailing father. Moved at this 
    act of her, many leaders of the BJP coming above party lines, had hailed her decision. A BJP leader had tweeted that if God gives him a daughter, she should be like Rohini Acharya. Talking to this newspaper, she said: “There is no plan to join politics. I am happily settled in Singapore with my kids. Also, I have no immediate plans of coming back to India as my children are in school in Singapore.”

    When asked what made her to donate one of her kidneys to her father, she said that her kidney was just ‘a small chunk of flesh’ that she donated to her father as a farz (duty) of a daughter. Speaking about the political future of her brother Tejashwi Yadav, she said that Tejashwi is serving the people sincerely. “I am confident that he will continue to serve the people of Bihar and India in future,” she said.

    She also batted for special status for Bihar strongly. “I would like Bihar to get special status from the centre as soon as possible which will help accelerate development of Bihar. I want to see Bihar regain its lost glory of once being the ‘education hub of India’,” she added.

  • Lalu Prasad Yadav’s kidney transplant surgery in Singapore successful: Tejashwi

    The 74-year-old RJD president, who has been suffering from multiple health problems, was advised a kidney transplant.

  • RJD chief Lalu Yadav slams Home Minister Shah for ‘jungle raaj’ jibe at Bihar govt 

    By PTI

    DELHI/ PATNI: RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav on Saturday lashed out at Home Minister Amit Shah over his “jungle raaj” jibe on Bihar’s ruling alliance and stressed on the need for Opposition unity, a day before he meets Congress leader Sonia Gandhi along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

    “Amit Shah has totally gone crazy. His government has been removed there (Bihar). It (BJP) will face a rout in 2024 as well. That is why he is going there running and speaking of ‘jungle raaj’ and all those things. What did he do when he was in Gujarat,” Yadav told reporters in the national capital.” 

    “Jungle raaj was in Gujarat when he was there,” the former Bihar chief minister alleged.

    “Amit Shah bilkul paglaye hue hain,” he said, speaking in Hindi, when asked about Shah’s ‘jungle raaj’ barb at the state government on Friday in his Purnea rally where he went hammer and tongs after Kumar and Yadav.

    Asked about the home minister’s claim that the BJP will form the government at the Centre in 2024 again and then in Bihar the next year, he quipped, “We will see that.”

    With the BJP saying that Kumar will dump the RJD later in his pursuit of power, Yadav asserted they are together now.

    Kumar and Yadav have scheduled to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday evening.

    “We are making every effort for Opposition unity,” Yadav, who has been battling poor health, said, adding this will be the agenda of their meeting.

    Earlier in Patna, Yadav predicted a wipeout for the BJP in the 2024 polls.

    “Don’t worry, the BJP will be wiped out (safaya ho jaega),” he said.

    His legal troubles and falling health have kept the charismatic leader mostly away from the daily grind of active politics as his son and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has emerged as the RJD’s de facto leader.

    Shah on Friday had flayed former ally Nitish Kumar, accusing the Bihar chief minister of backstabbing the BJP and trying to fulfil his prime ministerial ambitions while “sitting in the laps of Congress and RJD”.

    At a rally held in Purnea, Shah asserted the combine of Kumar and RJD president Lalu Prasad will be “wiped out (soopda saaf)” in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and, a year later, the BJP will win a majority on its own in the state assembly elections.

    Bihar does not want the grand alliance’s “jungle raaj”, he had said.

    DELHI/ PATNI: RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav on Saturday lashed out at Home Minister Amit Shah over his “jungle raaj” jibe on Bihar’s ruling alliance and stressed on the need for Opposition unity, a day before he meets Congress leader Sonia Gandhi along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

    “Amit Shah has totally gone crazy. His government has been removed there (Bihar). It (BJP) will face a rout in 2024 as well. That is why he is going there running and speaking of ‘jungle raaj’ and all those things. What did he do when he was in Gujarat,” Yadav told reporters in the national capital.” 

    “Jungle raaj was in Gujarat when he was there,” the former Bihar chief minister alleged.

    “Amit Shah bilkul paglaye hue hain,” he said, speaking in Hindi, when asked about Shah’s ‘jungle raaj’ barb at the state government on Friday in his Purnea rally where he went hammer and tongs after Kumar and Yadav.

    Asked about the home minister’s claim that the BJP will form the government at the Centre in 2024 again and then in Bihar the next year, he quipped, “We will see that.”

    With the BJP saying that Kumar will dump the RJD later in his pursuit of power, Yadav asserted they are together now.

    Kumar and Yadav have scheduled to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday evening.

    “We are making every effort for Opposition unity,” Yadav, who has been battling poor health, said, adding this will be the agenda of their meeting.

    Earlier in Patna, Yadav predicted a wipeout for the BJP in the 2024 polls.

    “Don’t worry, the BJP will be wiped out (safaya ho jaega),” he said.

    His legal troubles and falling health have kept the charismatic leader mostly away from the daily grind of active politics as his son and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has emerged as the RJD’s de facto leader.

    Shah on Friday had flayed former ally Nitish Kumar, accusing the Bihar chief minister of backstabbing the BJP and trying to fulfil his prime ministerial ambitions while “sitting in the laps of Congress and RJD”.

    At a rally held in Purnea, Shah asserted the combine of Kumar and RJD president Lalu Prasad will be “wiped out (soopda saaf)” in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and, a year later, the BJP will win a majority on its own in the state assembly elections.

    Bihar does not want the grand alliance’s “jungle raaj”, he had said.

  • PM Narendra Modi enquires about Lalu Prasad Yadav’s health

    By PTI

    PATNA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday enquired about the health of RJD supremo and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, who fractured his right shoulder after suffering a fall at his house in Patna on Sunday.

    According to a statement issued by Chitaranjan Gagan, RJD spokesperson (Bihar), here on Tuesday, “The PM spoke to Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday and enquired about the health of the RJD supremo. The PM wished speedy recovery to RJD chief.”

    The former Bihar chief minister fell down the stairs of his house at 10 Circular Road in Patna on Sunday and had to be rushed to a city hospital.

    The condition of the 74-year-old RJD chief is stated to be stable.

    “Lalu Yadav is undergoing treatment and is being monitored by multiple doctors,” said a senior RJD leader.

  • CBI registers fresh case against Lalu Prasad Yadav in graft case, searches multiple places 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CBI has registered a fresh case against former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on the charge of taking land from aspirants in return for jobs in the railway, officials said on Friday.

    The probe agency has started searches at 17 locations in Delhi and Bihar, they said.

    The alleged land-for-jobs scam pertains to the period when Lalu Prasad Yadav was the railway minister in the UPA government, officials said.

  • Fresh charges filed against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad in Bihar court

    Express News Service

    PATNA: Trouble for Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad seems to be far from over. On Wednesday, charges were framed against him in Bihar’s Hajipur court in connection with a case related to violation of election commission’s model code of conduct and inflammatory remarks at a public meeting.

    Lalu Prasad is currently undergoing treatment at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, after being released on bail from Ranchi high court in connection with the Doranda district treasury excess withdrawal case, an off shoot of multi-crore animal husbandry scam in undivided Bihar. Lalu is a named accused in a case lodged with Ganga Bridge police station in Vaishali district.

    The case relates to the violation of the model code of conduct and instigating people at a public meeting during assembly polls at Terasia village near Hajipur on September 27, 2015. The case was lodged on the written complaint of then circle officer Niranjan Kumar, who was deployed at the venue of the public meeting as a magistrate. On October 2, 2015, the investigating officer submitted the chargesheet in the case. The court took cognisance on February 11, 2019.

    On April 18 this year, Lalu was deposed before the court through a video conferencing system. Though Lalu denied the charges levelled against him, charges were framed by the court on Wednesday. “Now the trial will start in the case,” an assistant public prosecutor said.

    Meanwhile, RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said that Lalu Prasad is likely to visit Patna on April 30. He will be released from AIIMS-Delhi on Thursday and leave for Patna after staying at his eldest daughter Misa Bharti’s Delhi residence for a couple of days.

  • Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son Tej Pratap to quit RJD soon

    Express News Service

    PATNA: Three days after an RJD functionary accused party supremo Lalu Prasad’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav of hurling abuses and subsequently thrashing him, the latter expressed his willingness on Monday to resign from the party.

    Apparently hurt by the allegation, Tej Pratap on Monday tweeted on his official Twitter handle, “I will resign from RJD’s primary membership after calling on my father. I have always tried to follow ideals of my father and honoured the workers of the party.”

    मैं अपने पिता के नक्शे कदम पर चलने का काम किया । सभी कार्यकर्ताओं को सम्मान दिया जल्द अपने पिता से मिलकर अपना इस्तीफा दूंगा ।@laluprasadrjd @RJDforIndia @yadavtejashwi @RabriDeviRJD @MisaBharti @Chiranjeev_INC
    — Tej Pratap Yadav (@TejYadav14) April 25, 2022
    Tej Pratap’s remarks came close on the heels of allegations levelled by Ramraj Yadav, Patna town unit president of the RJD Youth wing on April 22. Ramraj alleged that he was assaulted by Tej Pratap and his close aides when he was busy in preparations for the ‘iftar’ party.

    The incident took place at 10, Circular Road residence of former chief minister Rabri Devi. The RJD youth wing leader alleged that he was confined in a room and brutally beaten up. The incident was video recorded. Insiders in the party said that Tej Pratap was not happy with Ramraj Ramraj who lodged a formal complaint against him with senior leaders of the party, including state president Jagadanand Singh and demanded action against him.

    Tej’s younger brother and leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav was also informed about the misbehaviour with Ramraj at Rabri Devi’s residence on the day the ‘iftar’ feast was organised. Tej Prasad’s relationship with state chief Jagadanand is an open secret. The differences between the two leaders cropped up when a close aide of Tej Pratap was removed from the youth wing’s state chief last year.

    On being contacted, Tej Pratap denied the charges levelled against him by Ramraj. “He is making allegations against him after being instigated by Jagadanand Singh, Sunil Singh (MLC) and Sanjay Yadav (Tejashwi’s adviser),” he added.

    Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, industries minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain and Jamui MP Chirag Paswan were prominent among others who attended the ‘iftar’ party hosted by the RJD family on April 22.

  • Jharkhand High Court defers hearing into Lalu Prasad Yadav’s petition in a fodder scam case

    By PTI

    RANCHI: Jharkhand High Court on Friday deferred the hearing into a petition filed by incarcerated RJD supremo Lalu Prasad challenging his conviction in a fodder scam case.

    73-year-old Prasad is in custody following his conviction and sentence by a CBI court in February in a fodder scam case involving embezzlement of over Rs 139 crore from Doranda treasury.

    RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav was on Monday sentenced to five years in prison and slapped a fine of Rs 60 lakh by a special CBI court in Ranchi in connection with the fifth fodder scam case involving embezzlement of over Rs 139 crore by Doranda treasury.

    Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh was informed by CBI, which is investigating the scam that the earlier order of the court to file a counter affidavit in the matter could not be complied with by the agency and pleaded for more time.

    The case will now be heard on April 22.

    Prasad’s counsel Kapil Sibbal told the court that his client has already served more than half of the sentence of five years in prison in the case and deserves to be released from custody.

    Prasad was convicted by the CBI Court here on February 15.

    On February 21 he was sentenced to five years imprisonment and fined Rs 60 lakh in the fodder scam case.

    Prasad had held the finance portfolio of undivided Bihar, of which he was the chief minister, during the period of the scam.

    He had allegedly received heavy kickbacks through the animal husbandary department.

    Fake challans and bills were raised which were cleared by the finance department and money was released through the treasury.

    The scam in the Doranda treasury was pegged at Rs 139.35 crores during 1995-96.