Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi found time despite hectic official schedule as well as social and political engagements to author a book — Lalu Leela — which is slated for release on October 11 on the birth anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan.
The 300-page book is mainly a compilation of the details of the properties of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and his close family members. Sushil documented these official papers and used to release them regularly through his Press conferences in 2016-17.
Sushil has a four-decade long connection with Lalu as both were products of JP’s Sampoorna Kranti movement. Both studied in Patna University and were actively involved in students’ union politics with Lalu as its president and Sushil as the secretary.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has written preface of the book brought out by a Delhi publishing house. The book release function will be attended by the Minister and other dignitaries like Radha Mohan Singh, Giriraj Singh, Ram Kripal Yadav, Shahnawaz Husain and some Bihar Ministers of the BJP.
During mid-90s Sushil was one of the Opposition leaders who exposed the fodder scam and took Lalu to court. Currently, Lalu is in prison in connection with the fodder scam cases.
Last year, Sushil brought out documents related to huge properties and assets held in the name of Lalu’s wife Rabri Devi, sons Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav and his daughters. Most of these transactions or transfers of the properties were made when Lalu was Railway Minister during 2004-09.
In April last year as Leader of Opposition, Sushil launched a sustained campaign against Lalu by bringing out secret official documents about when and how assets were transferred as gifts in the name of Lalu’s kin. On papers, the donors included fourth grade employees of railways and those taking care of Lalu’s cattle.
Both gifted acres of lands to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi.
“Rabri has 30 flats in Danapur, eight of them sold in one day, and Tejashwi owns more than 50 landed properties,” said Modi.
Modi’s revelations about the “corruption” of Lalu family prepared ground for the resignation of Tejashwi, then deputy CM and his brother who was Health Minister when Nitish Kumar severed ties with the mahagathbandhan and went back to NDA fold.