Trouble for Lalu Prasad's family; ED files supplementary chargesheet against daughter Misa, son-in-law

Lalu Prasad is at present lodged in Ranchi's central jail since his conviction on December 23 in connection with a fodder scam.

File photo

NEW DELHI: Trouble does not seem to end in near future for Lalu Prasad Yadav as the Enforcement Directorate on Saturday filed a chargesheet against the RJD supremo's daughter Misa Bharti and son-in-law in the Rs 8000 crore money laundering case.

This is the second chargesheet filed by ED against Misa and her husband. 

Earlier on December 23, Misa, her husband and others have were named in the chargesheet filed in Patiala House Court in Delhi. The matter has been listed for consideration in the first week of January. 

As per latest report, both chargesheets against Misa Bharti in the PMLA case will be considered on February 5.

The ED had in July also filed a supplementary chargesheet against Bharti's chartered accountant Rajesh Agrawal in connection with the case in which it named around 35 accused, including businessmen brothers Surendra Jain and Virendra Jain and some companies. 

Agrawal was accused of converting black money into a legal source of income through dubious transactions with the help of Surendra Kumar Jain and his brother Virendra Jain -- known as Jain brothers. 

The ED arrested the Jain brothers on March 20. In May, the ED filed its first chargesheeet in the case and thereafter, arrested Agrawal on May 22. Agrawal has also been accused of helping Bharti`s husband`s company, Mishail Packers and Printers Pvt Ltd "with some transactions".

Misa had also been questioned in connection with the case and also raided three premises in Delhi belonging to Bharti and her husband, including the farmhouses located in the high-class localities of Ghitorni, Bijwasan and Sainik Farms.

Lalu is at present lodged in Ranchi's central jail since his conviction on December 23 in connection with a fodder scam.

Meanwhile, a special CBI court in Ranchi will pronounce the quantum of sentence for Lalu and 15 other convicts in the fodder scam case on Saturday. 

Special judge Shivpal Singh was scheduled to pronounce the quantum of sentence on Wednesday but deferred after condoling the death of two lawyers, who passed away recently.

Yesterday, Lalu appeared before the court of CBI special judge Shiv Pal Singh for the sentencing hearing through video conferencing from Birsa Munda central jail and in a written plea sought leniency due to his illness and old age, his counsel Chittaranjan Prasad said. 

The court had convicted Lalu Prasad for offences of cheating with criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act. 

According to legal experts, Lalu Prasad would be able to apply for bail immediately at the lower court itself if the quantum of sentence happens to be less than three years.

Earlier, he was awarded five years imprisonment in 2013 in a case relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 33.61 crore from the Chaibasa treasury. 

On the other hand, Lalu's wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi has called an emergency meeting of RJD leader before the sentencing of the party supremo. 

The meeting, to be held at Rabri's official residence, 10 Circular Road, will see the attendance of all MPs, legislators, former MPs, MLAs and all district heads. 

A former RJD MP, Jagadanand Singh said that the meeting will chalk out the strategy keeping in view the present situation of the party and will also discuss the party's plan of action for 2019 general elections.