Former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Rabri Devi is set to appear before the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday for an official interrogation concerning the ongoing land-for-jobs money laundering investigation.
This high-profile case has significant political and legal implications, as it involves alleged financial misconduct during the tenure of her husband, former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Summoning Of Rabri Devi & Tej Pratap Yadav
Rabri Devi is expected to report to the ED office in Patna, where investigators will question her regarding financial irregularities allegedly connected to the illicit allocation of jobs in exchange for land.
Later in the day, her son, Tej Pratap Yadav, is also scheduled for interrogation. The timing of these proceedings has provoked protests from RJD supporters, who have mobilized outside the ED office, signaling the politically charged nature of the case.
CBI’s Case Against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Others
Earlier this month, the Central Bureau of Investigation concluded its arguments regarding the formal framing of charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, their son Tejashwi Yadav, former Union Minister Prem Chand Gupta, and others.
The case revolves around alleged corrupt practices in awarding maintenance contracts for two Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotels during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister (2004–2009).
According to the prosecution, there is substantial evidence implicating the accused in a criminal conspiracy to manipulate tender processes for personal financial gain.
The CBI asserts that the legal framework governing anti-corruption statutes provides a strong basis for prosecuting the case, given the systemic irregularities identified during the investigation.
Amid these legal challenges, Rabri Devi’s recent remarks targeting Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar have ignited a political controversy. She accused the Chief Minister of disrespecting women and made inflammatory claims about his demeanor in legislative proceedings.
“Nitish Kumar consumes ‘bhaang’ and comes to the Assembly. He disrespects women, including me. He should see the kind of work we did when we were in power. What the people around him say, he speaks the same. His own party members and some BJP leaders are asking him to say such things,” she alleged.
Political & Institutional Responses
Rabri Devi’s comments prompted immediate backlash from political opponents. Union Minister Nityanand Rai condemned the statements, accusing the RJD and Congress of tarnishing Bihar’s political image for partisan gains. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP Shambhavi Choudhary also criticized Rabri Devi, advocating for a more dignified political discourse.
JD(U) National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha refuted Rabri Devi’s claims and defended Nitish Kumar’s record on governance, particularly his contributions to women’s welfare. “The Chief Minister has undertaken unprecedented initiatives for women’s empowerment,” Jha asserted, dismissing Rabri Devi’s accusations as politically motivated rhetoric.
Escalating Tensions In Bihar Assembly
The Bihar Assembly recently witnessed heightened political discord, culminating in Rabri Devi’s demand for Nitish Kumar’s resignation. In response to perceived disrespect toward women legislators, RJD members staged a walkout, accusing the Chief Minister and the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of systematic marginalization.
The immediate catalyst for this confrontation was Nitish Kumar’s remarks on March 7, in which he accused the RJD of perpetuating dynastic politics. He directly referenced Lalu Prasad Yadav’s decision to appoint Rabri Devi as Chief Minister in 1997 following his conviction in the fodder scam, characterizing it as an example of nepotism.
This exchange has further intensified hostilities between the ruling coalition and the opposition, deepening the existing political polarization in Bihar.
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