On March 11, 2023 (Saturday), the Enforcement Department (ED) pulled out a significant nationwide raid at the residence of the former chief minister of Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, in conjunction with a scam encompassing railway land for jobs.
According to reports, 600 crores worth of criminal proceeds and 1 crore in unaccounted cash were found. The ED further said that a probe is underway to find out about more real estate and certain other investments made on behalf of Lalu Prasad’s family.
During the searches, Rs 53 lakh in cash, $1,900 in foreign currency, 540 gms of gold bullion, over 1.5kg of gold jewellery and incriminating documents and electronic devices were seized.
The ED asserted that despite the property having been listed on paper as the office of A.B. Exports and A.K. Info systems Private Limited, Mr. Yadav had been using it only as a residence.
The Land for Job Scam issue involves individuals who were reportedly granted jobs in the railroads in exchange for giving or selling land pieces to the Yadav family and its associates at a cheap price.
Searches resulted in the discovery of proceeds of crime totaling roughly 600 crore at this point,…in the form of moveable properties of 350 crore and transactions of 250 crore routed through several ‘benamidaars,’ it said.
According to the agency, the money laundering probe has so far revealed that several pieces of land at prominent locations in Patna and other areas were “illegally” acquired by the family of former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad in lieu of railways’ Group-D jobs.
These land pieces are currently worth more than 200 crore in the market. Many “benamidaars,” shell companies, and beneficial owners of these estates have been found in this regard, according to the ED.
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