Lalu Prasad Yadav has been accused in a new corruption case for suspected irregularities in recruitment between 2004 and 2009. When he was Railway Minister only weeks after being given bail in a fodder fraud case.
According to reports, the new complaint has listed Mr. Yadav’s daughter and other family members as defendants.
Today, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) began searching 15 places associated with the Rashtriya Janata Dal founder, including his houses.
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The CBI claims that Mr. Yadav and his family members were given land and assets as a bribe for railway posts.
Last month, the 73-year-old senior lawmaker was granted bail in the 139 crore Doranda Treasury fraud case by the Jharkhand High Court. In February, a CBI special court sentenced him to five years in jail in the case. He was also fined a whopping 60 lakh rupees.
In the treasury scandal, Mr. Yadav was convicted in his sixth fodder fraud conviction.
During the searches this morning, a video showed police officers visiting the Patna home of Mr. Yadav’s wife, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi.
Mr. Yadav is in Delhi, according to RJD lawmaker Dr. Mukesh Roshan, while his son and party leader Tejashwi Yadav is also gone. He said that “those in authority are attacking Lalu and Tejashwi Yadav because they are aware of their popularity.”
A senior party leader, Alok Mehta, said, “This is a last-ditch effort to eliminate the opposition. These allegations are without merit. This is a deliberate effort to quiet critics.”
