3 months ago
25
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Saturday took cognizance of the first chargesheet filed by ED in a
money laundering case
linked to the alleged land-for-jobs scam. Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi and her two daughters - Rajya Sabha member Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav - have also been named in the chargesheet.
The case is related to Group-D appointments made in the West Central Railway Zone in Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) when Lalu Prasad Yadav was the railways minister, from 2004 to 2009, allegedly in return for land for his family and associates.The court of special judge Vishal Gogne has directed the accused to appear before it on Feb 9.
"The complaint prima facie disclosed obtaining of multiple properties both at undervalued rates in lieu of government employment. The court finds sufficient material to take cognizance of the complaint and finds cogent grounds to issue summons," the court said.
In Jan, the agency filed the chargesheet naming Hridyanand Chaudhary, a former railways employee, and Amit Katyal, director of AK Infosystems, who was arrested in Nov last year in connection with the case. Katyal is said to be a close aide of Lalu.
AK Infosystems and another private company, AB Export, have also been named.
The agency has alleged that AK Infosystems bought 11 land parcels and the entire company was transferred to the family members of Lalu for Rs 1 lakh while the book value of its assets was Rs 1.89 crore.
ED also stated that the land parcels were bought in exchange for providing jobs in Group-D category in the Indian Railways and that they were bought at strategic locations adjacent to land that was already owned by Lalu's family members.
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