Politics Insight News Without Politics
(Pi Bureau)
The CBI on Friday morning conducted raids at 12 locations, including residences of former Union Railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi and their son Tejaswi Yadav. The investigative agency has filed a case against them alleging corruption during Lalu’s regime as Union Railways minister, in 2006.
Raids are being carried out across Delhi, Patna, Bhubaneswar and Gurgaon. A property in South Delhi’s New Friend’s Colony has been searched by the CBI, as well as Rabri Devi’s current residence at 10, Circular Road.
The case has been lodged for alleged corruption on part of the family for wrongful allocation of the IRCTC hotels. Tenders were allegedly allotted to Sujata Hotels, a private company, for upkeep and running of BNR hotels at Ranchi and Puri.
A laptop and an iPad, among electronic devices, have been retrieved by the CBI during raids conducted at 12 locations across five cities, including Patna and New Delhi. The investigative agency has also recovered some documents related to tenders on email.
Meanwhile , BJP leader Giriraj Singh demanded a statement from Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. “Law is taking its course, now Nitish ji cannot remain a mute spectator. He will have to speak out and state his stand clearly,” he said.
Calling the raids a “dark day” for democracy, RJD leader Manoj Jha vowed to fight the matter on all levels. “Today is darkest day in Indian democracy, we will not be cowed down by this.Will fight legally and politically,” he said.
Following the CBI raids , Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has called for a meeting of senior officials at Rajgir, Nalanda district . It is not clear, however, whether the meeting is in connection with the CBI raids at residences of the Yadav family. Nitish Kumar and Yadav share a close relationship and are part of the grand alliance currently in power in Bihar.
Congress questioned the ruling BJP on its silence on the matter since the last three years. The party also said that the probe should be carried out in a just manner without political motives. “The investigation should be done in a fair manner and without political vendetta,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said
Later Lalu yadav said in a press conference said “Me and my family members are being harassed repeatedly because of political vendetta. They (BJP) want us to yield before them”,
“The raids were done to insult and humiliate me. The ruling party wants to strike down the opposition by sending CBI, IT departments (after them), by incarcerating anyone who speaks out against them” Lalu said, adding, “The CBI has not found any documents relating to the alleged irregularities or scam.”
“Will oust BJP and the Modi government even if I perish,” said Lalu
Lalu speaks to media: “Before my time as Union minister, central government had taken this decision (to allow tenders). The tender file does not come to the minister. In 2006, some hotels, for some hotels who were in bad shape, IRCTC had put out open tenders for development, on lease for 15 years. It was not an absolute sale.”
