The Enforcement Directorate (ED) unveiled the inaugural chargesheet in the money laundering case related to the "railways land-for-jobs" nexus, implicating former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, her MP daughter Misa Bharti, and several others. This development was confirmed by official sources, marking a significant step in the ongoing investigation.
The chargesheet includes names like Hema Yadav, another daughter of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, along with Amit Katyal, an alleged close associate of the Yadav family. Additionally, it features railway employee Hridayanand Chaudhary, AK Infosystems Pvt. Ltd., and AB Exports Pvt. Ltd., with Shariqul Bari as their common director. These individuals and entities face accusations outlined in the complaint filed before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Delhi, with a hearing scheduled for January 16 as per the sources.
The sequence of events unfolds as follows: Amit Katyal's arrest by the ED in November last year, Lalu Prasad Yadav's summons pending deposition, and Bihar deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav's prior deposition with a subsequent summons. Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, along with other family members, have undergone questioning in relation to the case. The alleged scam, rooted in the period when Lalu Yadav held the position of railway minister during UPA-1, involves purported appointments to Group "D" positions in Indian Railways between 2004 and 2009. Allegedly, individuals transferred land to Lalu Prasad Yadav's family members and a company named AK Infosystems Pvt. Ltd. as a quid pro quo.
The ED's investigation indicates that Amit Katyal served as a director in the said company, while AB Exports Pvt. Ltd., allegedly a shell company, is purportedly owned by Tejashwi Yadav and Chanda Yadav. Transactions involving land parcels allegedly illegally acquired by Rabri Devi and Hema Yadav from railway appointees were reportedly sold to Meridian Construction India Ltd., connected to Syed Abu Dojana, a former RJD MLA. The proceeds were then funneled through complex transactions to AB Exports Pvt Ltd and Bhagirathi Tubes, as outlined by the ED.
Allegations point to the sale of these land parcels at a significantly higher value compared to the acquisition cost, leading to substantial gains for Rabri Devi and Hema Yadav. The ED's chargesheet urges the court to prosecute the accused for money laundering and seeks the confiscation of previously attached assets in the case. This money laundering case, stemming from a complaint filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), aligns with an earlier charge sheet lodged by the CBI.
The ED had previously attached assets valued over Rs 6 crore belonging to Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, and associated companies during the course of this investigation.
(With Agency Inputs)
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