Fresh ED summons to Rabri, Tejashwi

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday issued fresh summons to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s wife Rabri Devi and his son Tejashwi Yadav in connection with its money laundering probe pertaining to the alleged irregularities committed in awarding tenders for development, maintenance and operation of railway hotels at Ranchi and Puri to a private firm when Lalu was the railway minister. Mr Yadav was the railway minister in 2006.

Sources said that while Tejashwi has been summoned for questioning on November 20, his mother, Rabri, a former Bihar chief minister, has been called on November 24. While former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi was grilled last in this case on November 13 for the second time, Rabri had skipped six such ED summonses in the past. Sources added that the two were required to be questioned at length in the case and hence the fresh dates summoning them was issued.

The agency had registered a case against Lalu Prasad, his family members and others under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. In July, the CBI had registered a case and conducted multiple searches on the properties of Lalu Prasad, who is also a former Bihar chief minister, and others.

The ED is investigating the alleged “proceeds of crime” generated by the accused, purportedly through shell companies, according to the officials.