Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav Named As Accused In Land-For-Jobs Scam

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a supplementary chargesheet on Monday (3 July) naming Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as an accused for the first time.

Along with Tejashwi, 16 others have also been named in connection with the alleged land-for-jobs scam.

In addition to Tejashwi, the supplementary chargesheet includes the names of his parents — RJD chief and former railway minister Lalu Prasad and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi.

Last year in May, the CBI filed an FIR against Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, their daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, and 12 others. The first chargesheet was filed on 7 October, where they were all named as accused.

The case involves alleged corruption during Lalu Prasad's tenure as railway minister from 2004 to 2009 in the UPA-1 government.

According to the CBI, at least eight individuals were given Group D jobs in the Railways in exchange for land plots during this period.

The CBI claims that Lalu Prasad and his family acquired over 1 lakh sq ft of land for Rs 26 lakh when its cumulative market value at the time was over Rs 4.39 crore.

According to a statement from a spokesperson for the CBI, it has been alleged that between 2004 and 2009, Lalu Prasad received financial benefits by transferring land to his family members in exchange for appointing Substitutes in Group D positions across various zones of the Railways.

The spokesperson further alleged that as part of this arrangement, the Substitutes, who either resided in Patna themselves or through their family members, sold or gifted their land in Patna to Lalu Prasad's family members and a private company controlled by his family.

This company was also involved in transferring such immovable properties to his family members.

Additionally, it was claimed that no advertisements or public notices were issued for the appointment of these Substitutes in the zonal Railways. Despite this, individuals from Patna were appointed as Substitutes in different Zonal Railways located in Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Hazipur, as per the spokesperson.

Searches have been conducted at various locations, including Delhi and Bihar, in relation to the case.

The CBI spokesperson said that during the investigation, it was discovered that Lalu Prasad conspired with associates and family members to acquire land parcels in areas where his family already owned land or had connections. They allegedly planned to obtain the land by offering Group D employment in Railways.