Awami Co-op Bank: CBI raids Laloo’s close aide

Three months after the Income Tax raid, CBI sleuths came knocking at the doors of RJD President Lalu Prasad’s close aide and former party MLC Anwar Ahmed Chairman of Awami Co-op Bank’s at different locations in Patna. The UCB has allegedly indulged in large scale irregularities in the wake of demonetization.

CBI alleges that Arshad Ahmad son of the MLC who was popularly known as Kabab mantra of Laloo Yadav’s cabinet has converted huge amount of black money into white by opening 41 new accounts in the bank.

Others who figure in the scam include Abhay Kumar, Prakash Kumar Sinha and Kaushalendra Kumar Sharma besides Arshad. Anwar is not an accused so far.

Raids were conducted at Sabjibagh, Mother’s International school at Phulwarisharif in Patna run by the family and the Awami bank’s branches at Khajekalan, Muradapur and Raja Bazaar in Patna.

Earlier, Biscomaun Chairman and a known Laloo Yadav loyalist Sunil Singh has strongly defended his mentor and said Awami Co-op Bank’s Chairman Anwar Ahmad has no relationship with either the Lalu Prasad or the RJD today.

“He was MLC of RJD in the past and for last 15 years ago he is not even in the Party. Anwar made some uncharitable comment against Laluji in the past and now even his entry to Lalu-Rabri residence is banned just as it is banned in the case of Sadhu and Subhas Yadav”, Sunil had said.

On Laloo and Rabri having accounts in the Bank Sunil Kumar Singh said “ It was a marketing gimmick on the part of Anwar who wanted to attract customers selling his connection with the RJD Supremo.” Lalooji has no role in the Bank as it is mostly active among Muslim members and who alone are its voters, Singh added.