CBI summons Lalu Prasad Yadav on land-for-job scam

• Former Bihar CM and RJD chief Lalu Prasad has been summoned by the CBI in the land-for-job scam 
• When Lalu Prasad served as the Railway Minister of Bihar, received financial benefits in the form of transfer of land on behalf of his family members 
• Delhi's court summoned Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and 14 others in connection with the alleged land-for-employment scam, on Feb 27 

The CBI on Tuesday summoned Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav for questioning in the land-for-employment scam.

Earlier on Monday, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials reached the residence of former Bihar Chief Minister and Lalu Prasad's wife Rabri Devi to question her about the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) fraud case.

According to the CBI, when Lalu Prasad served as the Railway Minister of Bihar from 2004 to 2009, he received financial benefits in the form of transfer of land on behalf of his family members in return for appointing alternates in Group 'D' posts in various zones of the Railways.

In the FIR filed by the CBI, it alleged that “instead, the alternates, who were residents of Patna themselves or through their family members, sold and gifted their lands situated in Patna in favor of the family members of Lalu Prasad Yadav and a private company controlled by the family members which was also involved on the transfer of these properties on behalf of family members.”

On February 27, a Delhi court summoned Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi and 14 others in connection with the alleged land-for-employment scam. On October 10 last year, the CBI had filed a charge sheet for the offenses of conspiracy and corruption against 16 accused people, including Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi. According to the prosecution, the case was registered based on the outcome of the preliminary investigation against Lalu Prasad and others.

During its investigation, the CBI found seven cases where jobs were allegedly given to candidates when their family members transferred land to Lalu Prasad Yadav's family.

The CBI alleged that through seven land transfer cases, “undeserving candidates were given jobs in the railways when Lalu Prasad Yadav was the Railway Minister of India”. The CBI also found that no advertisement or public notice was issued for the appointment of alternates in the zonal railways, but the family members of those who transferred the land to Lalu Prasad Yadav's family were appointed in various zones of the Indian Railways.