After 'haunted' house, illegal temple controversy hits Tej Pratap Yadav

Days after the "haunted house" remark, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's elder son and former Bihar Minister Tej Pratap Yadav has landed himself in a fresh controversy over \"illegal\" construction of a temple.

Officials said the temple was built on the premises of a government bungalow that was recently vacated by Tej Pratap, who alleged that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Modi had let loose ghosts on the house. The bungalow in Patna is located in the of the CM's residence, Raj Bhavan and secretariat.

The temple "Shri Shri Baanke Bihari Shiv Mandir" was founded on August 28, 2017, while its "Pran Pratishthan" was held on February 13. The shrine's cornerstone says that it has been constructed by the blessings of Lalu and his wife Rabri Devi and inaugurated by Tej Pratap and his younger brother Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.

The Bihar government has ordered a probe into the construction of the temple. "It was brought to our notice that a temple has illegally been constructed on government land by a former minister. If the allegations are found true, appropriate action will be taken against him," said a state official.

DNA tried speaking to two RJD leaders in Patna, but they refused to make any comment on the controversy.

The controversy comes at a time when Tejashwi has been making a series of allegations against Nitish Kumar and his government being a "threat" to his life. He recently said, "They have not just been tapping phone calls but have also attempted to poison my food and stationed spies to monitor my activities."

PROBE ORDERED

• Bihar govt has ordered a probe into the construction of the temple.
   
• A temple has been illegally constructed on govt land by an ex-minister, an official said.