ED grills Lalu Prasad Yadav: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav faced a nine-hour questioning session by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the Land for Jobs scam case. Responding to the probe, his daughter Misa Bharti accused the Narendra Modi-led central government of being afraid of her father, asserting that the actions by the probe agency reflect this fear.Political AtmosphereA sizable crowd of RJD supporters gathered outside the EDs office in Patna as Lalu Prasad underwent questioning. Misa Bharti, addressing the media, criticized the Prime Minister, suggesting that the timing of the probe indicated apprehension ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.He (Lalu) cannot eat himself someone will have to feed him. We do not know whether he has eaten or not. No ED official is ready to speak...Since elections are near, the PM is scared and will do such things only. This government can (arrest) my father also, but what will they get by arresting a sick man, remarked Misa.Protest and AccusationsRJD workers protested outside the ED office, with one supporter expressing that the central governments actions were an attempt to disrupt election strategies. Misa Bharti accused the BJP of using government agencies for political targeting, dismissing the ED summon as more of a BJP summon.This is not an ED summon, but a BJP summon. This will go on till 2024 until then, please do not call it ED summons. Why should we be scared questioned Manoj Kumar Jha, RJD Rajya Sabha MP.BJPs ResponseIn contrast, the Bihar BJP unit chief, now state Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chowdhary, alleged corruption within the RJD. He urged Tejashwi Yadav, another RJD leader, to elucidate how to amass wealth rapidly, insinuating a lack of transparency.Familys Claims of RestrictionLalu Prasads daughter, Misa Bharti, asserted that she was initially prevented from accompanying her father into the EDs office, highlighting his health conditions, including a recent kidney transplant. She later stated that she was allowed to provide medicines to her father.Land-for-Jobs Scam BackgroundThe Land-for-Jobs scam allegedly occurred during Lalu Yadavs tenure as Railway Minister (2004-2009). It involves the transfer of lands, owned by candidates and their families, to Lalus wife Rabri Devi and daughter Misa Bharti at rates below the circle and market rates. The candidates were purportedly appointed in the Railways in exchange.CBI and ED InvestigationsBoth the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate are scrutinizing different aspects of the case, with chargesheets filed against Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, and others. The CBI investigates the land-for-jobs allegations, while the ED is focused on money laundering aspects.Note: The CBI filed chargesheets in October last year against the accused in the land-for-jobs scam.
