The agency had earlier this week filed a charge sheet against former Bihar CM Bihar Rabri Devi, her MP daughter Misa Bharti and another daughter Hema Yadav in the same case. Names of Prasad and Yadav did not feature in this charge sheet. People quoted above told ET that the duo could not be charged since the duo needed to be confronted with the alleged “damning disclosures” of a co-accused and other evidence.
“The role of Rabri Devi and her two daughters is rather indirect because they are beneficiaries of the proceeds of crime. But the role of Prasad and Yadav is direct,” claimed an official.
He added that Rabri Devi and her two daughters are “beneficiaries” of the alleged scam, but the entire “deal” was done at the behest of Prasad. According to another official, Yadav played a “key role” in holding “negotiations” with some landowners who allegedly gave away their land parcels to Prasad’s family at a throwaway price in lieu of jobs in the railways.
ED had last month summoned both Prasad and Yadav for questioning, but they haven’t appeared before the agency so far. As per available information, they will be summoned again. The agency will confront Prasad and Yadav with “damning” statements of Amit Katyal, a co-accused in the case who was charge-sheeted earlier this week along with Rabri Devi and others, and other evidence.
The agency wants to conclude investigation so that trial can kickstart without delay, said people quoted above. Sources indicated sale deeds of lands were issued in favour of Rabri Devi, her two daughters and in the name of two companies, including AK Infosystems Pvt Ltd whose erstwhile promoter Amit Katyal was arrested by ED last November.ET had reported earlier this week that AK Infosystems had received a land parcel from a relative of a candidate, who was selected as Group-D substitute in the railways allegedly at the behest of Prasad. The company was later handed over to Prasad’s family members in 2014 by Katyal without any monetary benefit.ED has alleged that the “proceeds of crime” were utilised to purchase a property in New Friends Colony, New Delhi, which was purchased in the name of another company AB Exports Ltd. ED has alleged that Katyal is a close aide of Prasad and his family.
ET had also reported that a month before his arrest in November, Katyal had petitioned the Delhi High Court seeking stay on any coercive step by ED. Interestingly, Katyal in his petition, seen by ET, had claimed that he was a protected witness of the Central Bureau of Investigation, but his petition was junked by the court as it found no substance in his claims.
