Filmmaker lands in trouble with Rabri

Patna: Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi has called for a CBI probe into the allotment of a prime piece of land to filmmaker Prakash Jha.

Samata Party president P K Sinha, who supported the move, has alleged that Jha was allotted the land in Patna and other places at rates below the market value.

Sinha has alleged that the state government allotted land at the Patliputra Industrial Estate to Jha for only Rs 1.46 million, when the actual market price of the land is Rs 48 million.

Jha has countered the cliam by sending legal notices to Rabri and Sinha.

“We are demanding an apology within a fortnight for their irresponsible acts.

It seems that they are out of focus. After 15 days, we will seek criminal and civil actions against them," Jha said.

Jha plans to set up multiplexes, ultra-modern medical colleges and hospitals in the state.

Sinha has threatened to file a Public Interest Litigation against Jha if the state government does not take action to prevent the land acquisition.

Railway Minister Lalu Yadav has said that the PIL will be enough to sort out the matter.

“Had we been ruling this state, we would have thrown him (Jha) out. The guilty should be punished for wrong acts," said Lalu.

There are rumours that Jha is being rewarded for campaigning for the Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) during the 2005 Assembly polls.