Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav Summons Renewed by ED for Land-for-Jobs Case, Appearance Due on January 5

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav faces a fresh Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons in the railway land-for-jobs scam. The ED had earlier summoned him on December 22, which he skipped, deeming it routine. Now, the ED directs him to appear on January 5. The case involves his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, former railway minister, allegedly appointing individuals to Group D positions in Indian Railways in exchange for land. The ED's move follows the arrest of an associate, Amit Katyal, accused of acquiring land for Prasad's family. Tejashwi, dismissing it as routine, emphasizes his past cooperation with investigating agencies.

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In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued another summons to Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader, Tejashwi Yadav, in the ongoing land-for-jobs case. The ED's fresh directive instructs Tejashwi to present himself on January 5, after he skipped a previous summons scheduled for December 22. The case revolves around allegations that individuals were appointed to Group D positions in Indian Railways between 2004 and 2009 in exchange for land transferred to the family members of Lalu Prasad Yadav, the then railway minister, and a connected company, AK Infosystems Private Limited.

Tejashwi Yadav, who had previously labeled the ED notice as routine, expressed his perspective, stating, "There is nothing new in the summons. All these agencies – ED, CBI, and IT department – have summoned me so many times in the past, and I have duly appeared every time. But now it seems to have become routine."

The ED's investigation gained momentum following the questioning of Amit Katyal, an alleged close associate of the Lalu Prasad family, who was arrested by the ED in November. The accusations suggest that Katyal, as the director of AK Infosystems Private Limited, acquired land from candidates on behalf of Lalu Prasad Yadav. The ED claims that the registered address of the company is the residence of Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members.

The scandal involved the exchange of land for undue favors, with shares of the company eventually transferred to Lalu Prasad's family members in 2014. The ED's case, filed under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), originated from a complaint by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Notably, Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, and Tejashwi Yadav were granted bail in October after the CBI filed a chargesheet against them.

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The alleged irregularities in the appointments, with no public notices issued, led to individuals from Patna securing positions in different zonal railways. In return, these individuals, directly or through their immediate family members, allegedly sold land to Prasad's family members at significantly discounted rates. The ED has been actively recording statements from various individuals involved in the case, including Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav's sisters, Misa Bharti, Chanda Yadav, and Ragini Yadav.

As the investigation unfolds, the political ramifications are noteworthy, given the involvement of prominent figures from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) – a key player in the I.N.D.I.A bloc gearing up for the 2024 general elections.