Lalu Prasad Yadav has been charged in a new corruption case over suspected irregularities in recruitment between 2004 and 2009, when he was Railway Minister, just weeks after being given bail in a fodder fraud case.
According to sources, the new complaint has listed Mr Yadav’s daughter and other family members as defendants.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) began searching 15 places associated with the Rashtriya Janata Dal founder today, including his houses.
The CBI claims that Mr Yadav and his family members were given land and assets as a bribe in exchange for railway posts.
Last month, the 73-year-old senior lawmaker was granted bail in the 139 crore Doranda Treasury scam case by the Jharkhand High Court. In February, a CBI special court sentenced him to five years in prison in the case. He was also fined a whopping 60 lakh rupees.
Mr Yadav was convicted in his sixth fodder fraud conviction in the treasury scam.
During the raids this morning, video showed police officers at the Patna home of Mr Yadav’s wife, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi.
Mr Yadav is in Delhi, according to RJD legislator Dr Mukesh Roshan, while his son and party leader Tejashwi Yadav is also away. He claimed that “those in authority are attacking Lalu and Tejashwi Yadav because they are aware of their popularity.”
Senior party leader Alok Mehta said, “This is an attempt to finish off the Opposition. There is no basis for these cases. This is an attempt to silence criticism.”
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