The ED recovered ₹70 lakh cash, 1.5 kg gold jewellery, 540 grams of gold bullion and foreign currency, including 900 US dollars, from the premises of Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughters and son Tejashwi Yadav during its raids on Friday in connection with a money laundering probe in an alleged ‘land-for-jobs’ case.

The ED had raided 24 locations in the national capital region (NCR), Patna, Ranchi and Mumbai, including the Bihar deputy chief minister’s residence in Delhi.

Additionally, ₹1 crore of unaccounted cash has been seized in the raids against Lalu Prasad's family members in the land-for-jobs case. Another ₹600 crore in proceeds of crime have been detected in the raids while an investigation is underway to unearth more investments made on behalf of Lalu Prasad's family in real estate and other sectors, news agency PTI reported.

Raids were carried out on Friday at the homes of three of Lalu’s daughters Ragini, Chanda and Hema Yadav, and former RJD MLA Abu Dojana, who is considered close to Lalu. 

The central agency also searched the residence of Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Jitendra Yadav in Ghaziabad. Jitendra Yadav is married to Ragini.

The Hindustan Times reported people familiar with the ED probe saying the residence in New Friends Colony in Delhi raided on Friday, where Tejashwi was present, is registered in the name of AK Infosystems Pvt Ltd, an accused company in the case. 

One of the land transfers by bribe givers who got jobs in the railways was done to AK Infosystems, according to the allegations.

“This means Tejashwi Yadav or Lalu Yadav's family is using a residence registered in the name of the accused company,” said an officer who didn't want to be named, as per the Hindustan Times report. 

"The ED probe has revealed that four land parcels were sold to Meridian Construction, owned by former RJD MLA Abu Dojana," said the officer.

The ED raids came after questioning by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of Lalu’s wife Rabri Devi in Patna on Monday, and the former Union minister Lalu in Delhi on Tuesday in relation to the same case.

Image courtesy: ANI