CBI records Rabri statement in money laundering probe
Officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) questioned former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi on Tuesday in connection with the money deposited by her days after demonetisation in a cooperative bank, which is facing a money laundering probe.
The Awami Cooperative Bank is being investigated for allegedly helping launder black money by opening large number of accounts with zero balance. Sources said Rabri had deposited ₹10 lakh, which she said was her dairy income, in the bank after demonetisation.
The CBI team recorded Rabri’s statement as a witness in the case, in which the probe agency has already quizzed key bank officials, including its chairperson, and former RJD l MLC Anwar Ahmed.
Sources said the CBI team, comprising of four officials, asked Rabri whether the ₹10 lakh deposited in her account belonged to her and if the transaction was made with her knowledge. Rabri told the probe agency that the money was earned through legitimate means and was deposited with her knowledge, sources said.
“Rabri Devi answered the questions in affirmative and also furnished the Income Tax return
PATNA:
in which the cash deposits had been mentioned clearly,” said a close aide of the former CM.
The CBI had raided the Awaami Coperative Bank in Patna last year after detecting alleged large scale irregularities by the bank post demonetisation.
According to probe agency’s FIR in the case, Ahmed’s son Arshad Ahmed had opened a number of accounts in the bank post the demonetisation on November 8, 2016 and deposited large sum of cash in ₹500 and ₹1,000 bank notes. The accounts were opened in the name of staff of Ahmed’s school and other business establishments.
This is the second time Rabri has been quizzed by CBI in recent months. On April 10 this year, a CBI team had questioned Rabri in the alleged land for hotel scam in which Rabri’s son and leader of the opposition Tejaswhi Prasad Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad are among the accused.