With the Income Tax Department attaching the benami properties of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's relatives, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday alleged that former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi owns more than 18 flats and 18 parking spaces in Patna.
Speaking to ANI, saffron party leader Sushil Kumar Modi said, "The land on which the complex has been built was bought by Rabri Devi when she was the Railway Minister. For all those whom she provided jobs, higher education and other needs, she (Rabri) had taken bribe and bought this land which is worth more than Rs. 18 crore. She owns more than 18 flats and 18 parking spaces in Patna alone. There is also another area which is under the name 'Sherya Construction' it was bought in 2011 and another complex which is on 'Ranjan path- which consist of 10 flats in it under the name Marachhiya Devi (mother of Lalu)".
"There is another property near to J D Women's College close to Sheikhpura district. That area has a four story building which consist of 16 flats from here eight is on Rabri's name. So if you feel, she hails from a poor family or will help the poor then don't think that will be possible. There is also another Mall coming up in the city which is on Rabri's name and worth Rs. 7.50 crore," Modi added.
The Income Tax department today attached a total of 12 plots of Lalu's daughter Misa Bharti and her husband Shailesh Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav and ex chief minister Rabri Devi, and sisters Ragini and Chanda Yadav.
Under the name of Rabri, three Plots in Jalapur, PS Danapur and Patna were seized, whose market value is Rs. 20 crore.
Earlier this month, two summons to Misa were also issued, but after she failed to appear, the I-T department proceeded to seize the properties which were raided in May.
On June 13, the I-T Department summoned Shailesh Kumar, in connection with the benami assets and tax evasion case registered against him.
On June 7, the I-T department slapped a fine of Rs. 10,000 against Shailesh on account of not appearing for interrogation.
Earlier, Misa Bharti and her husband Shailesh were summoned by the I-T department in connection with a 'benami' assets case.
The summons were issued days after the arrest of Bharti's Chartered Accountant (CA) Rakesh Agrawal, in connection with an Enforcement Directorate probe into a Rs. 8,000 crore money laundering racket, involving two Delhi-based businessmen and a few political entities.
Agrawal was arrested under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for allegedly being instrumental in providing accommodation entries (illegal funds) to launder the money of businessmen brothers - Virendra Jain and Surendra Jain.
The I-T department in its summons reportedly said it wishes to question Misa and her husband on transactions conducted by M/s Mishail Packers and Printers Private Limited.
The I-T department had conducted raids and surveys at about 22 locations in Delhi and adjoining areas in connection with alleged benami deals of Rs 1,000 crore by Lalu's family.
-ANI