Bihar News Updates: CBI raids underway at 25 locations; Nitish Kumar govt wins trust vote

CBI raids are going on at the house of MP Fayaz Ahmed in Anchor Madhubani since 6 am. The raids on the residence and Madhubani Medical College are going on for 12 hours. There is a gathering of RJD and Mahagathbandhan workers in front of the house of Rajya Sabha MP Fayyaz Ahmed.

After over an 11-hour-long raid, the CBI team leaves the residence of RJD leader Sunil Singh in connection with the alleged land-for-job scam case.

CBI sources revealed that in today's raids at 25 different locations in connection with the Land-for-Job scam, over 200 land deeds have been recovered. Raids continue. 

As CBI raids were underway pan-India in connection with the Land-for-Job scam, Republic learnt that the Central agency have made massive recoveries. Sources told the channel that 200 deeds were recovered, even though the FIR mentioned just 5 Sale Deeds and 2 Gift Deeds. 

CBI raids are underway at the residence of RJD MPs Faiyaz Ahmad and Asfaq Karim. CBI is also conducting raids at the residences of RJD MLC Sunil Kumar Singh, former RJD MLC Subodh Rai and former RJD MLA Abu Dojana.

Speaking to the media, RJD's Manoj Jha reminded BJP that 'Bihar had thrown them out of power'. "They should learn a lesson from this," he said. 

Amid CBI raids in the Land-for-Job scam, BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi highlighted how in the corruption case against RJD leaders, the documents of evidence were provided by the people of JD-U to the investigating agencies. "When the law is taking its course, then there should be no politics on it," he said in a tweet. 

After a fiery session in the Bihar Assembly, BJP made changes in its leadership in the state. Vijay Kumar Sinha was elected as legislative Assembly leader of the BJP and Samrat Chaudhry was elected as legislative council leader of the party. 

BJP's Giriraj Singh, while speaking to the media amid Tejashwi Yadav crying foul over CBI raids in Bihar, said, "Law will take its course". Coming to Nitish Kumar, he said, "His face was not as glowing at it used to be."

As the Bihar Land for Jobs scam exploded on Wednesday with raids on multiple leaders linked with the RJD, Republic accessed sensational 'gifts' land deeds. In the accessed gift deed pertaining to land, there are signatures of Lalu Prasad Yadav's wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi as beneficiary. Also, their aide, Bhola Yadav has signed as a witness.

The deeds show how the likes of Bhola Yadav, now arrested, seemingly facilitated in the scheme, as part of which several people, appointees in Railways, allegedly gifted land to the Lalu Yadav family when the RJD supremo was the Railway Minister in the UPA government. The value of the land parcels is pegged at an alleged estimated Rs 4.4 crore. 

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Tejashwi Yadav, while addressing the media, tried distancing himself from CBI raids in the Land for Job scam. He said, "CBI is conducting a raid at a mall in Gurugram, Haryana. I have got information that this mall which is currently being raided by CBI was inaugurated by a BJP MP. Don't know why my name is being dragged into this, a narrative is being created by some." 

Nitin Navin, BJP leader and former Minister of Road Construction, on CBI raids coinciding with the JDU-RJD trust vote in the Bihar Assembly, said, "The CBI is not going to look at the time & the schedules to conduct raids. The agency is going to act against the accused and the suspects in the case. Those having trouble with the action should have thought twice before indulging in the scam." 

Attacking the Yadavs, Navin further said, "Till yesterday, they were saying 'we are in opposition and that is why they are taking action' and now they are saying that we are in power and that is why they are taking action'. Should we just let you go in this case?" 

Elections for Bihar Assembly Speaker are scheduled for August 26, after Vijay Kumar Sinha's resignation from the post in the Assembly earlier in the day. 

Nitish Kumar-led Mahagathbandhan wins trust vote as Opposition walks out of Bihar Assembly before the commencement of voting. 

Nitish Kumar, recollecting JDU's split with NDA, said, "So many parties from all across called saying that you took a very good decision...I told them to maintain this unity and the way to 2024 would be easy." 

Nitish Kumar goes all guns blazing at BJP in the Assembly. Speaking on the buzz around him having Prime Ministerial aspirations, the Bihar CM said, "I don't want to become anything...Today, I am working then you are having problems...Now, they have nothing."

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar addressing the assembly said, "I was told back then that Nand Kishore Yadav will be made the CM, but instead of him I was made the CM." Tune into watch here:- 

RJD chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has been acquitted in the Model Code of Conduct case. Yadav was acquitted on the basis of witnesses and evidence by the Civil Court of Hajipur in the case, which pertained to him making caste-based remarks during the 2015 Bihar Assembly Election campaign, and thus, violating the code. 

Tejashwi Yadav further said, "We are cricketers and this pair (RJD and JDU) is going to have a never-ending partnership. This is going to be the longest inning, this partnership will be working for the development of Bihar and the country. No one is getting run out this time." 

Tejashwi Yadav said, "When BJP fears or loses in the state, it puts ahead its three 'jamai', CBI, ED and IT... When I go to foreign countries, BJP issues lookout notices against me & when fraudsters like Nirav Modi run away, they don't do anything." 

Tejashwi Yadav, Deputy Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader, spoke on the ongoing raids on the Yadav family in the Assembly, saying, 'It is unfortunate that the agencies are not doing their job properly. In 2017 also, we were investigated and again they have raked up the issue'. 

Inside the Bihar Assembly. RJD-JDU took a dig at BJP citing Harivansh Rai Bachchan's poetry- "Jeevan Main Ek Sitara Tha...Woh Toot Gaya Toh Rona Kya"

The Assembly session was extended till July 26. Thereafter, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar proposed a vote of confidence. Subsequently, Tarkishore Prasad commenced his speech on the motion. 

The Bihar Assembly was adjourned to 2.30 pm. The session was chaired by Deputy Speaker Maheshwar Hazari. 

Former Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi hailed the speech delivered by BJP MLA Vijay Sinha who resigned as the Assembly Speaker. He stressed, "Democracy will always remember your contribution in the smooth running of the house. Kudos to Vijay Kumar Sinha". 

A CBI raid is underway at Whiteland Corporation Private Limited, located in the Worldmark building in Sector 65 of Gurugram. CBI raids are underway at 25 places in Delhi, Haryana's Gurugram and Bihar's Patna, Katihar & Madhubani, in connection with the land for job scam case.

Speaking to the media after tendering his resignation as the Speaker, BJP's Vijay Sinha said, "In the same House that gave me the honour of being the Speaker, I had said earlier that I won't resign outside. I'll speak on matters related to the Assembly, in the Assembly. I presented the entire issue before all MLAs."

"All answers will be given inside (the Assembly)," Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav told the media ahead of the Floor Test of the Nitish Kumar-led Government.

Speaking to the media after sitting on the chair of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker Maheshwar Hazari stated that he will chair the session and not Narendra Narayan Yadav as announced by outgoing Speaker Vijay Sinha. The JDU leader stressed, "As per the rules of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, the Deputy Speaker will conduct the proceedings when the Speaker is not there. When the Speaker has resigned, the Deputy Speaker will assume his powers. Nothing happens if someone says something. He might be jealous of me as I speak the truth. He went from the Assembly by saying an unconstitutional thing. Because I hail from the Dalit community, he wished that a person from the Dalit community should not sit on this chair". 

Taking a swipe at the protest of BJP MLAs outside the Bihar Assembly, RJD quipped, "The BJP leaders had gone to protest at the Shatabdi Memorial pillar built in the assembly premises. They couldn't even tolerate today's light sunshine. In exactly 51 seconds, they went from there to the shade wiping sweat. For 17 years, while in power, they had not even seen sunshine while doing under-table dealing in AC!"

CBI raids are underway at 25 places in connection with land for job scam case at different places in Delhi, Haryana's Gurugram and Bihar's Patna, Katihar, and Madhubani. 

A meeting of the Bihar Cabinet has been convened at 12.30 pm for the appointment of a new Speaker. The letter would be sent to the Governor. A few minutes earlier, BJP's Vijay Sinha resigned as the Speaker. 

As per sources, the CBI is undertaking raids at 25 locations now. 'Urban Cubes 71'- an under construction mail linked with Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav is also being raided. 

"The Chair is 'Panch Parmeshwar'. What message do you want to give by casting suspicions on the Chair? People will make a decision," Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha said in the House. Thereafter, he resigned from the House and adjourned the proceedings. 

Addressing the Assembly, BJP MLA and Speaker Vijay Sinha insisted that he never worked partially and tried to raise the standards of the House. Mentioning that the no-confidence proposal is vague, he rubbished the charges levelled by the Mahagatbandhan. He stated, "I would like to tell you that your No Confidence Motion is unclear. Eight of the nine MLAs' letters, which were received, were not as per rule". 

JD(U) MLC Devesh Chandra Thakur filed his nomination for the Chairmanship of the Bihar Legislative Council. CM Nitish Kumar, RJD leader Rabri Devi and others were present on the occasion.

As per sources, the private secretaries of RJD leaders are also under the scanner in the land-for-jobs scam. 

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, RJD leader Rabri Devi and other Ministers arrived at the state Assembly ahead of the commencement of the special session.

Breaking her silence on CBI raids, RJD leader Rabri Devi said, "These people are scared. A new government has been formed under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. All parties except BJP are with us. We have the majority in the House. We won't be scared because of CBI. This is not the first time raids are taking place. The people of Bihar are our family. They are watching everything."

Taking a swipe at the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led party, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya stated, "RJD, whose chief has been convicted in several corruption cases, can’t accuse agencies of doing their job. RJD, whose chief has been convicted in several corruption cases, can’t accuse agencies of doing their job. ‘Land for Jobs' case was lodged against Lalu Prasad & Family (wife and 2 daughters) 3 months ago. Bhola Yadav, Lalu’s aide, was arrested last month."

Speaking to Republic TV, former Bihar Deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad said, "The Speaker has been sent a motion that the House doesn't have confidence in him. The motion will be accepted if 38 MLAs stand in its favour. Then, the House will mull over it and he won't sit on the Chair". He added, "There is no connection between CBI raids and the floor test". 

In a massive development, sources revealed that Lalu Yadav's brother-in-law Subhash Yadav was also raided by CBI apart from 4 other RJD leaders. 

BJP MLAs staged a protest outside the Bihar Assembly in protest against JDU's decision to return to the Mahagatbandhan fold. Speaking to Republic, a BJP legislator said, "Earlier, Bihar was famous for Litti Chokha. Now, Bihar has become famous for U-turns. It has become a matter of shame in the country to be a Bihari. This Kursi Kumar has insulted Biharis". 

Mahagatbandhan MLAs gathered outside Bihar Assembly and demanded the resignation of Speaker VK Sinha They said, "Conspiracy to scare us through raids won't work. It's a conspiracy to topple our government. Our proposal for No-Confidence Motion against Speaker should be considered and discussed".

In more trouble for RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, the CBI registered a fresh corruption case against the former Bihar Chief Minister and his daughter Misa Bharti in May. Raids were conducted at over 15 locations across India including Delhi and Bihar in connection with this case. As per sources, the CBI lodged an FIR only after a Preliminary inquiry was completed. Sources indicated that this case pertains to the period when Yadav was the Railways Minister. Yadav allegedly took land from aspirants for giving them jobs in the Railways. Sources said that Yadav's wife Rabri Devi was named in the FIR. 

Slamming the CBI raids, JDU spokesperson Neeraj Jha remarked, "The Centre has made a dangerous attempt of using CBI and ED as political weapons in Bihar. Today, the government is going to prove its majority. So, are you asking CBI and ED to do a show of strength? This is the land of democracy. Even if you get dozens and hundreds of agencies like ED and CBI, no one is born yet who can pressurise the MLAs of the Mahagatbandhan. That's why don't be under any illusion. The people are watching everything."

Reacting to the CBI raids on RJD leaders, Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal said that central agencies are doing their work. He observed, "BJP does not falsely implicate anyone. One and a half years ago, Nitish Kumar himself had complained when crores of rupees were being seized. A Scorpio which was leaving from the state Assembly with money was seized. Money was being paid for getting tickets". 

Supporters of Sunil Singh, RJD MLC and Chairman of Biscomaun Patna, gathered outside his residence in Patna in protest against the CBI raid. 

Sparks are set to fly at the Bihar assembly on Wednesday when the BJP, now stripped of power and politically isolated, will try to hold its own against the mighty seven-party ruling 'Mahagathbandhan'. The special session is set to commence on a stormy note on account of Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha's stout refusal to resign despite the new ruling dispensation's motion of no-confidence against him. If the assembly is not adjourned following the vote over the motion against the speaker, the new government headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will also face the trust vote during the day.

Sinha, a senior BJP leader, evidently enjoys the backing of his party which has vowed to take on "Paltu Kumar", a pejorative it has coined for the chief minister and his many volte faces, and the new government which has been formed through "back door", a charge the party has, ironically, been facing since 2017. The 'Mahagathbandhan', which comprises the chief minister's JD(U), besides RJD, Congress, CPI(ML), CPI and CPI(M), has a combined strength of 164 in the 242-strong House. As such, there is little to worry for the new coalition which can comfortably vote out the speaker and proceed to prove its majority on the floor.

Moments ahead of the crucial floor test in Bihar, CBI conducted raids at the residence of four senior leaders of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), closely associated with party supremo Lalu Yadav, in connection with the land-for-jobs-scam case. Searches were carried out at the premises of RJD MLC Sunil Singh, former MLC Subodh Roy, Rajya Sabha MPs Ahmad Ashfaque Karim, and  Faiyaz Ahmad in Patna, on the morning of August 24. Furious over the agency's action, Sunil Singh claimed that the raids were conducted intentionally and "out of fear ahead of the trust vote in the Bihar assembly."

"It is being done intentionally. There is no meaning to it. They are doing it thinking that out of fear, MLAs will come in their favor. We will protest against this raid," RJD MLC Sunil Singh said, from the balcony of his home amid the raids.

Supporters of Sunil Singh gathered outside his residence in protest against the central agency's action on the RJD leader. Speaking to Republic, one of the supporters said, "Sunil Singh has a good image and they are trying to tarnish it. We have called 20,000 cooperative party workers to demonstrate against the raids". The Bihar police swung into action and dispatched a team to control the law and order situation in Patna. 

Many leaders of the RJD have denounced the action and accused the BJP of attempting to defame the ruling party. "These are politically motivated raids. They are raiding our leader right before the confidence motion," said RJD MP Manoj Sinha. Meanwhile, Lalu Yadav's daughter took a veiled jibe at the BJP, in a tweet that read, "He will not be afraid, he won't bow down. The socialist government won't be sold". 

CBI raid underway at the residence of former RJD MLC Subodh Roy in Patna. Raids are underway at the residences of RJD leaders Sunil Singh, Ashfaque Karim and Faiyaz Ahmad as well in connection with the alleged land-for-job scam.

Speaking to the media on the CBI raids, RJD MP Manoj Jha remarked, "Useless to say that it's raid by ED or IT or CBI, it's a raid by BJP. They work under BJP now, their offices run with BJP script. Today is Floor Test (in Bihar Assembly) and what's happening here? It has become predictable". He added, "Our Deputy CM had said in the meeting yesterday that they will reach this level now. It didn't take even 24 hours. They stooped down even lower. What is this anger? That a Govt didn't run as per you? That it changed the alliance for public welfare"?