The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has already submitted its charge sheet in the case...
Digital Desk: The CBI questioned former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi at her Patna home on Monday and issued a notice to her husband, former railway minister Lalu Prasad, in connection with the further investigation into the land-for-jobs scam case, officials said.
There is no search or raid going on, they said, adding that the CBI had issued a notice to Rabri Devi, following which she showed her availability on Monday and the team visited her residence to question her.
A similar notice has been issued to RJD supremo and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad, according to officials, who did not reveal the date of his questioning.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has already submitted its charge sheet in the case. On March 15, the special court called the accused, including Prasad, his family, and others.
The agency said the fresh round of questioning of Yadav family members is in connection with "further investigation" in the case.
The team may also request additional documents from Lalu Prasad's family in connection with the case of alleged land transfer to them in exchange for appointments in Group D positions in railways between 2004 and 2009.
Tejashwi Yadav, the deputy chief minister of Bihar and the son of Prasad, claimed that the CBI's move was due to his family's "relentless opposition" to the BJP.
"It is a well-known fact that investigation agencies are targeting political opponents of the BJP and assisting those who consent to align with that party," the RJD leader told reporters outside the Bihar Assembly. He also claimed that his father had "no powers" as railway minister to provide employment in return for favours.
Other parties, including the Congress and the AAP, have also criticized the central government over the CBI action, claiming that the BJP is attempting to "suppress" the opposition's opinion.
"Today Rabri Devi ji is being harassed. Lalu Prasad ji and his family have been harassed for years because they did not bow down," Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted.
In response to the CBI action, AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated that targeting and harassing opposition leaders is wrong. However, the BJP claimed that Prasad was "reaping what he had sown" and that the CBI was "doing its work as an independent agency".
"Lalu Prasad's brush with CBI has been long. The fodder scam cases, in which he has been convicted, were lodged much before the BJP came into the picture,?" said senior BJP leader and former state minister Nitin Nabin.
The FIR alleged that some people, despite being residents of Patna in Bihar, were appointed as substitutes in Group-D positions in various railway zones in Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Hajipur between 2004 and 2009.
It was claimed that in order to execute this, the individuals or members of their families transferred their property into the names of Prasad's family and AK Infosystems Private Limited, which was later taken over by family members of Prasad.
It was claimed that Prasad's family members acquired approximately 1,05,292 square feet of land in Patna from these individuals via five sale deeds and two gift deeds, with most of the sale deeds specifying cash payment to the sellers. According to the current circle rate, the property was worth approximately Rs. 4.39 crore.
The land was purchased directly from the sellers by Prasad's family members at a lower rate than the prevalent circle rate. The land's prevalent market value was significantly higher than the circle rate.
It was alleged that the railway authority's procedures and standards for the appointment of substitutes were not followed and that their services were later regularised.
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