New Delhi: The CBI Set to expand the scope of its probe into the “land for jobs” scam, investigators have come to know from what they termed “prima facie evidence” that around 4,000 people were allegedly transferred to the Indian Railways during the RJD chief’s tenure. The job was given. Lalu Prasad’s tenure as Union Railway Minister and in return his land parcel was “purchased”.
Sources said the agency has recovered a storage device with a list of 1,500 candidates and the railway zones mentioned where their applications were sent.
Officials claimed that those who sold pieces of land to Lalu and his family in exchange for jobs are from only five-six districts of Bihar, which are focused on the interests of the clan.
The CBI probe has also revealed that Lalu allegedly created a special cell called MR Cell in his Patna camp office which was used as a center for collecting documents and applications from candidates. This cell processed and scrutinized the applications, which were part of the alleged conspiracy, before forwarding the applications to the concerned railway authorities. The cell was also responsible for coordinating the placement of these candidates in various zones of the Railways.
The investigation has also revealed evidence that the Lalu clan later made a profit by selling several lands “purchased” from the candidates. In one instance, a plot of land bought for a few lakhs was sold in 2017 for several crores to a company owned by former RJD MLA Syed Abu Dujana.
CBI sources also pointed to the peculiar case of a shell firm owned by Amit Katyal. The firm allegedly bought land parcels worth crores of rupees. Later, it was acquired by Lalu’s son Tejashwi Yadav and wife Rabri Devi in 2014.
Many discrepancies were found in the application form of the candidates and the documents attached by them. The applications should have been rejected due to loopholes but they were processed and applicants got jobs with different sectors.
In most cases, the candidates joined on later dates, thus defeating the very purpose of their appointments as substitutes to meet exigencies. In some cases, the candidates could not clear their medical examination. Thereafter they were considered and appointed to posts where the requirement of medical fitness was not the same.
Sources said the agency has recovered a storage device with a list of 1,500 candidates and the railway zones mentioned where their applications were sent.
Officials claimed that those who sold pieces of land to Lalu and his family in exchange for jobs are from only five-six districts of Bihar, which are focused on the interests of the clan.
The CBI probe has also revealed that Lalu allegedly created a special cell called MR Cell in his Patna camp office which was used as a center for collecting documents and applications from candidates. This cell processed and scrutinized the applications, which were part of the alleged conspiracy, before forwarding the applications to the concerned railway authorities. The cell was also responsible for coordinating the placement of these candidates in various zones of the Railways.
The investigation has also revealed evidence that the Lalu clan later made a profit by selling several lands “purchased” from the candidates. In one instance, a plot of land bought for a few lakhs was sold in 2017 for several crores to a company owned by former RJD MLA Syed Abu Dujana.
CBI sources also pointed to the peculiar case of a shell firm owned by Amit Katyal. The firm allegedly bought land parcels worth crores of rupees. Later, it was acquired by Lalu’s son Tejashwi Yadav and wife Rabri Devi in 2014.
Many discrepancies were found in the application form of the candidates and the documents attached by them. The applications should have been rejected due to loopholes but they were processed and applicants got jobs with different sectors.
In most cases, the candidates joined on later dates, thus defeating the very purpose of their appointments as substitutes to meet exigencies. In some cases, the candidates could not clear their medical examination. Thereafter they were considered and appointed to posts where the requirement of medical fitness was not the same.