The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday recorded the statement of former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi in connection with the Railway hotels’ maintenance contract corruption case.
“Ms. Rabri Devi appeared before the investigation team in Patna, in response to the summons. Her statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act,” said an official. The agency had earlier issued multiple summonses asking her to join the probe in Delhi, but she did not turn up.
The ED had also summoned her son Tejaswi Yadav twice and recorded his statement.
“Their statements have been recorded as they had taken over a company through which about a three-acre commercial property was acquired from Patna-based firm, Sujata Hotels. The firm got contracts for the maintenance of two Railway hotels in Puri and Ranchi when RJD chief Lalu Prasad was the Railway Minister,” said the official.
The money laundering probe is against Mr. Prasad, Ms. Rabri Devi, Mr. Tejaswi Prasad and others in July.
The agency has alleged that the contracts to Sujata Hotels were awarded in 2006, in lieu of the three-acre land that was acquired through a front company, Delight Marketing Company. Accused Sarla Gupta, wife of Mr. Prasad’s close associate Prem Chand Gupta, was a director in that company.
According to the CBI, by 2014, Delight Marketing’s shares were taken over completely by Mr. Prasad’s family members for just ₹64 lakh, against the circle rate of ₹32.5 crore for the property and market value of ₹94 crore. The company’s name was later changed to Lara Projects and then turned into a limited liability partnership firm.
