More trouble for Tej Pratap Yadav as soil scam files may be re-opened

State govt would also look for other irregularities that took place during his tenure

Last Updated : Jul 31 2017 | 7:32 PM IST

More trouble is brewing for Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad's elder son and former minister Tej Pratap Yadav as the state government is all set to re-open the files related to the Rs 90 lakh soil scam.

Apart from that, the state government would also look for other irregularities that took place during his tenure. Tej Pratap held the portfolio of health, environment and forestry and minor irrigation departments in the Grand Alliance government.

Assuming charge as the Finance Minister on Monday, senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi told that the newly formed state government, however, would not play vendetta politics, rather it would take strict action against those responsible. "We are reviewing the files relating to the soil scam. Soil scam is a very small thing involving Rs 40-50 lakh. But through this scam we found that Lalu was owner of benami properties worth Rs 1000 crore and above," Modi said.

"The government is also going to review other possible irregularities that took place during the tenure of Lalu's sons," he added.

Tej Pratap, has been allegedly accused of misusing his position, by selling the soil excavated from two acres of land on which a mall belonging to Lalu and his family was being built, to the Patna zoo for Rs 90 lakh in violation of rules. Incidentally, Chief Secretary Anjani Singh gave the minister a clean chit in May after a thorough investigation ordered by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Intensifying his attacks on Lalu, Modi said that his government would take strong action against sand mining mafia operating in Patna and neighbouring areas. "We are acting against sand mining mafia in which RJD leaders are involved. It has come to light that most of the political funding of the party comes through sand mining mafia and we have begun action against them," said Sushil Modi.

The Patna and Saran police has been carrying out a massive operation against sand mining mafia for the last couple of days. They have already arrested more than 50 persons.