CA linked to Misa held, trouble for Lalu
NEW DELHI: The arrest of a chartered accountant (CA) allegedly linked with a private firm owned by Misa Bharti, daughter of Lalu Prasad, could spell further trouble for the already embattled RJD chief.
The enforcement directorate (ED) arrested CA Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, on charges of aiding Mishail Packers in laundering money through two Delhi-based businessmen brothers who were arrested earlier.
ED believes that the CA acted as a mediator between Surendra Kumar and Virendra Kumar Jain and Mishail Packers and Printers Pvt Ltd, a private firm dealing in the publishing business. Misa is an active shareholder and director in the firm with her husband, Shailesh Kumar, ED officials told HT.
Agency sources said the ED has informed to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) about a list of assets owned by former railway minister Lalu Prasad’s family.
The agencies are exploring the option of registering a disproportionate assets case against him, an official told HT.
In March this year, ED arrested the Jain brothers on charges of laundering money worth over ₹4,300 crore. The brothers have been accused of laundering the unaccounted funds worth around ₹64 crore of Jagat Projects Private Limited.
The CA has been accused of acting as a mediator. While the ED maintained that Agrawal’s arrest was in connection with the Jain-Jagat project case, officials said his links to Misa’s firm would also be probed.
“During investigations it came to light that in October 2008, Mishail Packers, through Agrawal, sold 1.2 lakh shares of the company — with face value of ₹10 each — at ₹100 each to three shell companies owned by Jain brothers. It fetched the company ₹1.20 crore. Eleven months later, Misa’s firm purchased all the shares at the rate of ₹10 per share from Jain,” said a senior ED official. The agency suspects that agricultural land in Delhi was purchased using this money.
“The agency (ED) will be coordinating with the CBI to probe allegations levelled at family members of Yadav. The allegations include acquiring disproportionate assets and money laundering,” said an official.