RJD Slams Center in Land-For-Jobs Case After ED Attaches Lalu’s Family Assets

After the ED attached certain properties as part of its money laundering probe against party chief Lalu Prasad, his family, and others on Monday, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) criticized the Centre, claiming the goal of such moves is to “disrupt” the opposition coalition INDIA.

Manoj Jha, an RJD MP and spokesman, said that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was “spinning and planting stories” about the inquiry against Prasad and his family in the media. He also claimed that the government had asked for an extension of the investigative agency’s chief’s term so that he could “target” opposition figures.

The ED said on Monday that as part of its money laundering probe into RJD supremo Lalu Prasad’s family — including his wife Rabri Devi and daughter Misa Bharti — and associated entities, it has attached assets worth more than Rs 6 crore.

 

According to a statement from the agency, a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has been issued to seize six moveable properties in Patna, Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh), and a four-story home at D-1088 in the exclusive New Friends Colony neighborhood of south Delhi.

 

Jha commented on the situation by stating, “We had addressed a news conference on July 27 regarding the person who has been awarded an extension as the ED head.They have no other choice now that the Supreme Court has spoken, and they will topple the West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand administrations. It is untrue what is reported in the media that Lalu Prasad’s family has assets worth $6 billion attached. This is political and won’t work, he said.

 

“We knew what they were going to do after we had raised concerns about the worried individual in ED. They would fabricate such tales and sow lies in an effort to undermine INDIA (the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance).You won’t be able to do it, he said.

 

The opposition had criticized the BJP-led Centre over the extension of ED chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra’s term until September 15 on Friday, alleging that this was done with “ulterior political motives” and was intended to target the INDIA bloc’s leaders with “false cases” to weaken the alliance.

 

After the Centre argued that Mishra’s continuation is required in light of the ongoing FATF peer review and efforts by India’s neighbors to ensure that the country is placed on the “grey” list, the Supreme Court on Thursday extended Mishra’s tenure until midnight on September 15 in the larger “public and national interest.”