PATNA: After seven weeks of Income Tax raids in connection with benami property on May 16, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his family members faced another shock when CBI conducted raids at 12 locations including his residence at 10 circular road in Patna today in a case of irregularities committed in leasing out Railway hotels in Ranchi and Puri to a private firm when Mr Prasad was Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009.
CBI sleuths conducted simultaneous raids at the residence of RJD chief Mr Prasad at 10 circular road in Patna and other locations in Ranchi, Puri and Delhi besides other places across the country in connection with irregularities committed in leasing out Railway hotels when he was Railway Minister.
Family members of Mr Prasad had allegedly received costly plot in Patna from Kochar brothers using the Delight Company of RJD MP Prem Chandra Gupta, whose firm was given Ralway hotels on lease in Ranchi and Puri.
Name of Delight company was later changed to Lara Projects and shares were transferred in the name of Tejaswi Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, former Bihar chief minister and wife of Mr Prasad.
CBI had registered FIRs against RJD chief Mr Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejaswi Prasad Yadav among others in this connection on July 5 before conducting raids this morning.
As CBI team reached at the residence of Mr Prasad at 10 circular road in Patna, the news spread like wild fire and a large number of RJD workers and some senior leaders of the party rushed to the spot in no time, apparently to show their solidarity with their top leader in this hour of troubles.
Heavy security forces were deployed near the residence of Mr Prasad as precautionary measures, to prevent any untoward incident as the RJD workers were seen enraged over the CBI action. Security cover of RJD, BJP and JD(U) offices in Patna was also beefed up to avoid any sort of unpleasant outburst over the CBI raids.
After Income Tax raids at 22 locations of Mr Prasad across the country on May 16 in connection with benami property, BJP and RJD workers had clashed forcing security forces to intervene to maintain order.
As per reports, former chief minister Rabri Devi and her son Tejaswi Prasad Yadav were interrogated by sleuths of CBI during the raids conducted at their residence in Patna. When contacted, CBI offcials refused to divulge the contents of interrogation, saying it was not possible to do so as the case was under investigation.
Mr Prasad, who is in Ranchi in connection with his appearance before CBI court in fodder scam, told media persons that open tenders were invited during his regime of Railway Minister to lease out railway hotels in Ranchi and Puri to a private firm as per norms.
” I had done no wrong as Railway Minister in leasing out hotels to private firm and my family members were being unnecessarily harassed by CBI on directive of Narendra Modi Government”, Mr Prasad said and threatened that he would ensure defeat of BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Such kind of action could not deter him from organising rally on August 27 in Patna to throw out BJP from power in next Lok Sabha election, he further added.
Meanwhile, state RJD president Ramchandra Purvey told media persons that the raids conducted by CBI was result of political vendetta of BJP led NDA Government at the Centre.
Those who were protesting the flawed policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were being targeted by government agencies like CBI,Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax which did not augur good for democracy, he remarked.
” Proposed rally of RJD on August 27 in Patna to evolve national level unity among opposition parties to counter BJP in next Lok Sabha elections would be held as scheduled and CBI raids would have no effect on the event”, Mr Purvey vowed outside the residence of Mr Prasad where CBI operation was on.
Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi who had raised the issue few weeks back and also circulated documents relating to transfer of land to family members of Mr Prasad, in lieu of leasing out railway hotels to a private firm, demanded Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to dismiss Mr Tejaswai Prasad Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav from his cabinet as both were facing a number of irregularities charges.
“It is for Mr Kumar to decide whether he is prepared to run his government with RJD as coalition partner when its president Mr Prasad, his sons Tejaswi and Tej Pratap are facing serious charges and CBI has conducted raids at their residence”, Mr Modi maintained.
On the other hand, Bihar Chief Minister Mr Kumar who is in Rajgir, remained tight lipped over the issue. All spokesman of his party JD(U) also did not utter even a single word on the issue. (agencies)
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