Ajit Karn
Tejashwi Yadav challenges the CBI summons
Wednesday, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav challenged in the Delhi High Court the CBI summons requiring him to attend for interrogation in the alleged land-for-jobs scam. Tomorrow, a panel headed by Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma will hear his petition.
Mr. Yadav argued in his petition that despite being a resident of Patna, he was being summoned to Delhi for interrogation, which violates Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). According to the statute, he explained, a notice may only be issued to a person who resides within the local jurisdiction of a police station or an adjacent police station.
Through the petition, the 33-year-old requested time to appear before the CBI following the conclusion of the current Bihar Assembly session. According to him, as the newly appointed Deputy Chief Minister, it is his duty to attend the session.
Mr. Yadav has thus far received three notices from the CBI (on February 28, March 4, and March 11). The Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar has requested the dismissal of the summons.
During his interrogation, Mr. Yadav also requested “the presence of his attorney(s) at a visible but not perceptible distance, as mandated by the Supreme Court of India”
Mr. Yadav and members of his family, including his parents Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi, are under investigation in connection with the alleged land-for-jobs scandal.
Tejashwi Yadav assured the ongoing investigation of his complete cooperation and assistance.
Wednesday, a court granted parole to former Bihar chief ministers Lalu Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and their daughter Misa Bharti in this case.
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The Yadavs are accused of purchasing land for pennies on the dollar in exchange for employment during the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader’s tenure as Union Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009.
In its chargesheet, the CBI alleged that anomalous appointments of candidates were made on the Central Railway in violation of Indian Railways’ recruitment norms and procedures.
