Tejashwi Yadav to appear before CBI today in land-for-jobs case

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday for questioning in connection with the land-for-job scam case, dared the Center and expressed confidence that he will emerge victorious in the ongoing contest. His sister Misa Bharti will appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the case.

"We will fight the Center and we will win," said Yadav, who will appear before the investigating officer at the CBI headquarters in Delhi at 10.30 am. On 16 March, the CBI assured the Delhi High Court that it would not arrest Yadav this month, after which the RJD leader agreed to appear before him.

Yadav has so far skipped three CBI summons in the case. He was summoned to appear for questioning on 28 February, 4 March and 11 March. Recently, the investigating agency questioned Yadav's father and RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his mother Rabri Devi in ​​Delhi and Patna.

The CBI filed a charge sheet in the Land-for-jobs case against Prasad, Rabri Devi and 14 others on charges of criminal conspiracy and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. On March 10, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at premises allegedly associated with Tejashwi Yadav, where the agency claimed to have uncovered assets worth Rs 600 crore.

However, Yadav called them "rumours" after his return to Patna.

“The raid on my house ended in 30 minutes. We then served tea to the ED officials and asked why they were not leaving. My wife needs care and suffers from high blood pressure. They said they would leave only when called from above. Yes, the intention was to wage propaganda (war) against me,” the RJD leader added.

The agency alleged that during Prasad's tenure as railway minister in the UPA government from 2004 to 2009, popular candidates were appointed to the railways in violation of norms and procedures. These appointments were allegedly made without any advertisement or public notice. Some Patna residents were appointed as substitutes in various zonal railways in Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur and Hazipur, the CBI alleged.

In return, the candidates, directly or through their immediate family members, allegedly sold land to Prasad’s family members at highly discounted rates, up to one-fourth to one-fifth of the prevailing market rates.