The CBI on Monday examined former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi at her residence in Patna in connection with its ongoing probe in the land for jobs scam case.
The agency has issued notice to her husband and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad in connection with the case, officials said, clarifying that there was no search or raid taking place.
They said the CBI had issued notice to Rabri following which she showed her availability on Monday following which a team of investigators visited her residence to question her.
Likewise, a notice has been issued to RJD supremo and former Bihar Chief Minister Prasad, the officials said without giving the date of his questioning.
The agency has already filed a charge-sheet in the case. The special court summoned the accused, including Prasad and his family members and others, for appearance before it on March 15.
As per the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), the CBI has kept the probe open in the alleged scam and the new round of questioning of Prasad family members is part of “further investigation” in the case, they said.
During the quizzing of the Prasad family, the agency is likely to seek some additional documents related to the case of alleged land transfer to them in exchange for appointments in Group D posts in railways during 2004-2009.
The FIR has alleged that some persons, although residents of Patna in Bihar, were appointed as substitutes in Group-D posts during the period 2004-2009 in different zones of the railways located in Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Hajipur.
In lieu of the jobs, the individuals themselves or their family members transferred their land in the name of family members of Prasad and a company, AK Infosystems Private Limited, which was subsequently taken over by family members of Prasad, it alleged.
It was also alleged that about 1,05,292 sq. ft. of land in Patna was acquired by the family members of the former Railway Minister from these persons through five sale deeds and two gift deeds and in most of the sale deeds, payment to the sellers was mentioned to be paid in cash.
As per the existing circle rate, the land’s value was about Rs 4.39 crore.
The land was directly purchased by the family members of Prasad from the sellers at a rate lower than the prevalent circle rate. The prevalent market value of the land was way too higher than the circle rate.
Due procedure and guidelines issued by the railway authority for the appointment of substitutes were not followed and, later on, their services had also been regularized, according to the allegations in the FIR.