Lalu Yadav's son Tej Pratap Yadav named in Bihar soil scam worth Rs 90 lakh; ministers threatens Sushil Modi of defamation suit

Patna: Bihar Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh on Thursday ordered a probe into alleged soil scam worth Rs 90 lakh involving Lalu Prasad Yadav's son and state Forest and Environment Minister Tej Pratap. 

It has been alleged that the minister violated norms and handed over a contract to a private company worth Rs 90 lakh for the construction of pathways and improvement of the Sanjay Gandhi Zoological Park in Patna.

The allegation is that a huge amount of soil was removed from a mall site and sold to the Patna Zoo. It is also alleged that this was in nexus and at the behest of Tej Pratap. 

According to the BJP, the shopping mall is being built on the land transferred to Delight Marketing Company Private limited in which Tej and his younger brother Tejaswi and sister Chanda are directors. Tejaswi is the deputy chief minister of Bihar.

On Tuesday, senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi demanded the removal of Lalu Prasad Yadav's son Tej Pratap as Bihar's environment and forest minister amid corruption allegations. 

"Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should order a high-level probe into the 'soil purchase scam' in which Environment and Forest Minister Tej Pratap Yadav is involved. The CM should sack Yadav from his Cabinet without making any delay," said Sushil Modi according to PTI.

Apart from Yadav's siblings, the minister and his mother are also a shareholder of the plot, The Indian Express reported. 

"There was a complete nexus and at the behest of Tej Pratap Yadav, this soil was purchased," he added. 

Meanwhile, Tej Pratap has denied any wrongdoings and has threatened to file a defamation suit against Sushil Modi for running a smear campaign against his family for alleging a conflict of interest.

Lalu Yadav too came in defense of his sons in the scam allegation and said that they are ready to face investigation.