ED arrests Amit Katyal, An Alleged Associate of Lalu Prasad Yadav, in the Land-for-Job Scam Case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Amit Katyal, a businessman and an alleged associate of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi Yadav, in connection with a money laundering case related to the land-for-job scam. The scam involves the alleged transfer of land to the family members of Lalu Prasad Yadav and a company named A K Infosystems Private Limited in exchange for railway jobs during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as the railway minister in the UPA-1 government.
Who is Amit Katyal?
Amit Katyal is a promoter of A K Infosystems Private Limited, a company that is allegedly a beneficiary of the land-for-job scam. According to ED, Katyal is a close associate of Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi Yadav, who is the deputy chief minister of Bihar. Katyal’s residence in New Friends Colony, South Delhi, was declared as the office of A K Infosystems Private Limited, but is being used by Tejashwi Yadav as his residential premises. Katyal was also a former director of A K Infosystems Private Limited.
What is the land-for-job scam?
The land-for-job scam pertains to the period between 2004 and 2009, when Lalu Prasad Yadav was the railway minister in the UPA-1 government. It is alleged that several people were appointed to Group D positions in various zones of the Indian Railways and in lieu, these people transferred their land to the family members of Lalu Prasad Yadav and A K Infosystems Private Limited. The ED has claimed that the land transferred to the Yadav family and the company was worth over Rs 90 crore.
What is the ED’s case against Amit Katyal?
The ED has registered a case against Amit Katyal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on a CBI FIR that was filed in 2017. The CBI FIR named Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, his son Tejashwi Yadav, and others as accused in the land-for-job scam. The ED has alleged that Amit Katyal was involved in the transfer of land to the Yadav family and the company and also received money from them through various channels. The ED has also alleged that Amit Katyal was in possession of several properties and bank accounts that were acquired from the proceeds of crime.
#WATCH | Delhi: Rouse Avenue court sends Businessman Amit Katyal to ED custody till 16 November
— ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2023
Amit Katyal was arrested in alleged land for job case. According to ED, Katyal's premises in Delhi's New Friends Colony declared as an office of AK Infosystem but being used by RJD… pic.twitter.com/zZ4OWl49na
What is the status of Amit Katyal’s arrest and legal proceedings?
Amit Katyal was detained by the ED on Friday, November 11, 2023, after several hours of questioning. He was evading the ED’s summons for questioning for about two months. The Delhi High Court had recently rejected his plea to quash the ED summons against him in this case. He was arrested by the ED on Saturday, November 12, 2023, and produced before a local court where the ED sought his custody for interrogation. The court granted the ED 10 days of custody of Amit Katyal.
What is the reaction of the RJD and the Yadav family?
The RJD and the Yadav family have denied any involvement in the land-for-job scam and have termed the ED’s action against Amit Katyal as a political vendetta. They have accused the BJP-led central government of misusing the ED and the CBI to harass and intimidate their political opponents. They have also claimed that Amit Katyal is not their associate and that they have no relation with A K Infosystems Private Limited. They have said that they will fight the case legally and politically and expose the conspiracy of the BJP.
What are the implications of the ED’s arrest of Amit Katyal?
The ED’s arrest of Amit Katyal is a significant development in the land-for-job scam case, as he is allegedly a key link between the Yadav family and the company that received the land. The ED is likely to interrogate him further and gather more evidence against the accused. The arrest may also have political ramifications, as it comes ahead of the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, where the RJD is in alliance with the Samajwadi Party and the Congress respectively.
The BJP may use the arrest to target the RJD and its allies and project them as corrupt and dishonest. The RJD and its allies may counter the BJP’s allegations by alleging political vendetta and witch-hunt. The arrest may also affect the public perception of the RJD and the Yadav family, who are already facing several corruption cases.
Source:- News Unzip
