CBI raids premises of 5 RJD leaders

PATNA:  Sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids at the premises of five prominent Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders in Bihar in connection with IRCTC land-for-jobs scam. For the first time, raiding teams of the central agency were accompanied by central para-military forces.

The raids were carried out at the premises of MLC Sunil Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Asfaq Karim, Rajya Sabha MP Fayyaz Ahmed, ex-MLC Subodh Rai and former MLA Abu Dojana in Patna, Madhubani and Katihar. Serches were also conducted at a mall in Gurugram, reportedly owned by deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.

The raids coincided with the trust vote of the newly-installed Grand Alliance government or mahagathbandhan on the floor of Bihar legislative. The new alliance comprises seven parties, including RJD, JD(U), Congress, CPI-ML, CPI, CPI(M) and HAM.

The raiding team had to face ire of supporters of RJD MLC Sunil Singh, who is considered close to RJD chief Lalu Prasad. The supporters of the MLC in question staged a dharna outside the residence of Singh and raised slogans against the central investigating agency.

Slogans like ‘CBI go back’, ‘CBI haay haay’ and ‘CBI ki gundagardi nahi chalegi’ reverberated in the air. The local police had a tough time to ensure safe exit of 10-member raiding team from the house of Singh, who is also chairman of BISCOMAUN.

Singh’s proximity with Lalu family can be gauged from the fact that he also works as adviser to former chief minister Rabri Devi. In addition, he is the treasurer of RJD. A CBI team reached Singh’s residence located near J D Women’s College at Bailey Road in the state capital.

Another team of CBI officials raided the official residence of Rajya Sabha MP Asfaq Karim in Katihar. The team reached the house of Karim with personnel of the central reserve police force. Another team raided the residence of Fayyaz Ahmed, Rajya Sabha MP, in Madhubani.

Separate CBI team also raided the premises of former MLC Subodh Rai and former MLA Abu Dujana. Sources said that officials of the Enforcement Directorate were also pressed into service for the search operation.

Reacting to CBI raids at premises of RJD leaders, former CM Rabri Devi said that BJP ensured the operation against the targeted leaders as they (BJP) were scared of the strength of Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. “This is the conspiracy of Narendra Modi government. But we are not afraid of CBI or ED or any central agency,” she said.

JD(U) too extended its support to its ally on the issue. “They are misusing the central agencies like CBI and ED to obtain their political objectives. But they will never succeed. People are watching every action of the central government,” JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar said.

BJP, however, defended the CBI operation. “The investigating agency is doing its job. If somebody has not committed any fraud, there is no need to worry about,” BJP leader Nitin Nabin told the media. Corroborating his remarks, BJP state chief Sanjay Jaiswal said, “BJP neither frames anyone nor saves. CM Nitish Kumar had complained before the CBI and raids were conducted today. So he is answerable to them and not us.”

PATNA:  Sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids at the premises of five prominent Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders in Bihar in connection with IRCTC land-for-jobs scam. For the first time, raiding teams of the central agency were accompanied by central para-military forces. The raids were carried out at the premises of MLC Sunil Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Asfaq Karim, Rajya Sabha MP Fayyaz Ahmed, ex-MLC Subodh Rai and former MLA Abu Dojana in Patna, Madhubani and Katihar. Serches were also conducted at a mall in Gurugram, reportedly owned by deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. The raids coincided with the trust vote of the newly-installed Grand Alliance government or mahagathbandhan on the floor of Bihar legislative. The new alliance comprises seven parties, including RJD, JD(U), Congress, CPI-ML, CPI, CPI(M) and HAM. The raiding team had to face ire of supporters of RJD MLC Sunil Singh, who is considered close to RJD chief Lalu Prasad. The supporters of the MLC in question staged a dharna outside the residence of Singh and raised slogans against the central investigating agency. Slogans like ‘CBI go back’, ‘CBI haay haay’ and ‘CBI ki gundagardi nahi chalegi’ reverberated in the air. The local police had a tough time to ensure safe exit of 10-member raiding team from the house of Singh, who is also chairman of BISCOMAUN. Singh’s proximity with Lalu family can be gauged from the fact that he also works as adviser to former chief minister Rabri Devi. In addition, he is the treasurer of RJD. A CBI team reached Singh’s residence located near J D Women’s College at Bailey Road in the state capital. Another team of CBI officials raided the official residence of Rajya Sabha MP Asfaq Karim in Katihar. The team reached the house of Karim with personnel of the central reserve police force. Another team raided the residence of Fayyaz Ahmed, Rajya Sabha MP, in Madhubani. Separate CBI team also raided the premises of former MLC Subodh Rai and former MLA Abu Dujana. Sources said that officials of the Enforcement Directorate were also pressed into service for the search operation. Reacting to CBI raids at premises of RJD leaders, former CM Rabri Devi said that BJP ensured the operation against the targeted leaders as they (BJP) were scared of the strength of Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. “This is the conspiracy of Narendra Modi government. But we are not afraid of CBI or ED or any central agency,” she said. JD(U) too extended its support to its ally on the issue. “They are misusing the central agencies like CBI and ED to obtain their political objectives. But they will never succeed. People are watching every action of the central government,” JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar said. BJP, however, defended the CBI operation. “The investigating agency is doing its job. If somebody has not committed any fraud, there is no need to worry about,” BJP leader Nitin Nabin told the media. Corroborating his remarks, BJP state chief Sanjay Jaiswal said, “BJP neither frames anyone nor saves. CM Nitish Kumar had complained before the CBI and raids were conducted today. So he is answerable to them and not us.”