Why former Bihar CM Rabri Devi is being questioned by CBI

The land for jobs case relates to the alleged appointments in the railways in return for land parcels gifted or sold to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family when he was the minister of railways between 2004 and 2009.

Rabri Devi is an accused in the case along with 15 others. (Photo: PTI)

By India Today News Desk: Former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi is being questioned by the CBI in the land for jobs case at her Patna residence. Rabri Devi is an accused in the case along with her husband and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav, and 14 others.

The questioning comes a week before the Yadavs and the other accused are to appear in a Delhi court in connection with the case. The accused were asked to appear before the court on March 15.

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The CBI has accused Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, their daughter Misa Bharti, former general manager of Central Railway Sowmya Raghavan, former CPO Railways Kamal Deep Mainrai and seven aspirants, who were given jobs in exchange for land at a throwaway price, and four private individuals of criminal conspiracy and corruption.

WHAT IS LAND FOR JOBS CASE?

The case relates to alleged appointments made in the railways in return for land parcels gifted or sold to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family when he was the minister of railways between 2004 and 2009.

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The CBI said in its chargesheet that people were appointed to Group-D posts in different zones of the railways in return for land.

The individuals themselves or their family members transferred their land to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family and a company, AK Infosystems Private Limited, which was subsequently taken over by the family.

VIOLATION OF RAILWAYS GUIDELINES

In some cases, it is alleged that land was transferred to the Yadav family at throwaway rates and the appointments were made in violation of the guidelines laid down by the railways, as per the CBI FIR. Later on, their services were also regularised.

THE CBI CASE

The CBI, during its probe, found seven instances where jobs were allegedly given to candidates when their family members transferred land to the Yadav family.

The CBI registered an FIR in May 2022 accusing Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members of buying land at throwaway rates in return for giving out jobs during his tenure as railway minister.

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In July last year, Yadav’s aide and former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Bhola Yadav was arrested by the CBI.

A chargesheet was filed on October 10 last year for offences of criminal conspiracy and corruption against 16 accused persons. According to the charge sheet, the case was registered pursuant to the outcome of a preliminary enquiry against Lalu Prasad Yadav and others.

THE LAND FOR JOBS DEALS

The CBI alleged that about 1,05,292 square feet of land situated in Patna was acquired by the family members of Lalu Prasad Yadav from those persons through five sale deeds and two gift deeds. In most of the sale deeds, payment to the sellers was mentioned being paid in cash.

The value of the land was about Rs 4.39 crore. The land was directly purchased by the Yadav family from the sellers at a rate lower than the prevalent circle rate.

Out of the seven instances, three sale deeds were executed in the name of Rabri Devi, one sale deed was executed in the name of Misha Bharti and two gift deeds were executed in favour of Hema Yadav.