New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has issued a fourth summon to Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister, Tejashwi Yadav, in connection with the land-for-job scam. He has been asked to appear before the probe agency on March 25, and has already skipped three previous summons. However, the premiere investigating agency has assured the they will not arrest Tejashwi Yadav this month.
The CBI has alleged that, during the investigation, it was found that "the accused in conspiracy with the then GM and CPO of the Central Railways engaged persons as substitutes in lieu of land either in their name or in the name of close relatives of the Lalu family".
Earlier Tejashwi Yadav informed the Delhi High Court on Thursday that he would appear before the CBI in connection with the alleged land-for-job scam. He made the submission while his plea was heard in the court of Justice Dinesh Sharma.
Tejashwi Yadav had on Wednesday moved the Delhi High Court seeking stays and quashing of summons issued by the CBI for questioning in connection with the case. In the petition, Tejashwi Yadav has said that the CBI summon notices have been issued with the “intention of harassing” him in violation of section 160 of the CrPC. He was a minor at the time of the alleged crime”, Tejashwi said.
Tejashwi wanted the High Court to cancel the summons of the CBI, which he termed as means to harass him. Significantly, Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court has granted bail to Lalu Yadav, Rabri Devi, and Misa Bharti in this case on Wednesday. Recently, the Enforcement Directorate had raided 24 places of Lalu family and aides of the former Railway Minister, including Tejashwi's Delhi bungalow.
Tejashwi Yadav's lawyer said three summons have been issued to him since February and he has requested the agency that till the budget sessions is going on, either he be allowed to appear in the CBI office in Patna or if any information or documents are required from his side then he shall provide the same through his authorised representative in New Delhi.
He said one of the co-accused was called for questioning to CBI's Delhi office but was arrested.
My apprehension is they will do the same thing to me. Their endeavour is that I come here and they arrest me, the senior lawyer said on behalf of Tejashwi Yadav, who holds four portfolios in the Bihar government.
CBI's lawyer, however, assured the court that Tejashwi Yadav will not be arrested this month.
Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma recorded the CBI counsel's statement that the agency was not contemplating to arrest Tejashwi Yadav this month. Following the assurance, senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing Tejashwi Yadav, submitted to the court that the leader will appear on March 25 before the investigating officer at CBI headquarters in Delhi at 10:30 am.
Noting the submissions of both the sides, the high court disposed of the petition in which Tejashwi Yadav has sought quashing of summons issued to him by the CBI for appearing before it in Delhi.
Also read:Lalu Prasad, wife Rabri Devi appear at court in 'land for job' case
The CBI had registered a case against Lalu Yadav, the then Union Railway Minister, his wife Rabri Devi, two daughters, and 15 others, including unknown public servants and private persons. "During the period 2004-2009, Lalu had obtained pecuniary advantages in the form of transfer of landed property in the name of his family members in lieu of appointment of substitutes in Group 'D' posts in different Zones of Railways," the official said.
A number of residents of Patna themselves or through their family members sold and gifted their land in favour of the family members of Lalu Prasad and a private company controlled by him and his family. "No advertisement or any public notice was issued for such appointment of substitutes in Zonal Railways, yet the appointees, who were residents of Patna, were appointed as substitutes in different Zonal Railways located at Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Hajipur," the CBI said in the court.
In continuation of this modus operandi, about 1,05,292 Sq. feet land, immovable properties situated at Patna were acquired by Yadav and his family members through five sales deeds and two gift deeds, showing the payment made to the seller in cash in most of the land transfer, the CBI had said.
The ED claimed to have recovered Rs 1 crore cash, and about 2 kg gold as well as foreign currency. The agency also claimed to have had stuck proof for Rs 600 crores transactions. Earlier on March 6, the CBI had raided Lalu's wife Rabri's residence in Patna and questioned Lalu, who had returned to India from overseas after undergoing a kidney transplant, was also questioned by the CBI for 4 hours.
The alleged scam dates back to 2005-05 when Lalu Yadav was the Union Railway Minister. It is alleged that Lalu provided jobs in Railways in exchange for lands at throwaway prices. The CBI had filed a charge sheet on Oct. 10
