Most Controversial Moments Of Lalu Yadav And His Family: Scams, Raids, Personal Drama And More

Most Controversial Moments Of Lalu Yadav: Lalu Yadav's family and his political history have always been linked with controversies for a long time, and the most recent incident involving Tej Pratap Yadav has brought their internal dynamics into sharper focus. Lalu Prasad Yadav, the leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), publicly disowned his older son, Tej Pratap Yadav, from the family on May 25, 2025, and expelled him from the party for six years. This extreme measure was taken in response to a contentious Facebook post from Tej Pratap's verified account, which included a picture of the two and his claim that he had been in a 12-year relationship with a girl, Anushka Yadav. 

The post immediately went viral, generating a lot of criticism and raising concerns about Tej Pratap's behaviour, particularly in light of his ongoing divorce proceedings from his wife, Aishwarya Rai, whom he married in 2018. Tej Pratap later claimed that his account had been hacked and that the post was an attempt to defame him and his family. However, Lalu Yadav cited his son's "irresponsible behaviour" and disregard for moral values as the reasons for the expulsion. 

This incident has not only strained familial ties but also cast a shadow over the RJD's image ahead of the upcoming Bihar elections. The public fallout underscores the challenges of balancing personal conduct with public responsibilities in political families. 

1. Lalu Yadav's Fodder Scam (Chara Ghotala) 

One of the largest corruption scandals in Indian politics is the Fodder Scam. Lalu Prasad Yadav was charged with embezzling more than ₹950 crore intended for cattle feed from the government treasury while serving as Bihar's chief minister. When the fraud was discovered in the 1990s, Lalu was found guilty and imprisoned. In addition to harming his political reputation, this scam caused him to resign as chief minister in 1997.

2. Misa Bharti’s Farmhouse Controversy

When the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided Lalu's daughter Misa Bharti's Delhi farmhouse about a benami property case, it caused controversy. According to authorities, the farmhouse was purchased through shell corporations using illicit funds. Her political career received unwelcome attention as a result of the raids and court cases.

3. Tej Pratap Yadav’s Personal Life Issues

Lalu’s elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav’s troubled marriage with Aishwarya Rai, was often in the media. The public fights, divorce case, and his emotional outbursts affected the family's image. His erratic political behaviour and controversial statements also made headlines several times.

4. Benami Property Cases By Lalu Yadav

Several members of Lalu Yadav’s family, including his wife Rabri Devi and children, were investigated in benami property cases in 2017. The Income Tax Department and ED accused them of acquiring lands and buildings through shell companies and proxies. These allegations created a narrative of massive wealth accumulation through corrupt means.

5. Gundaraj Allegations During Lalu’s Rule

Lalu Yadav's tenure as Bihar’s CM (1990-1997) is often referred to as an era of "Jungle Raj" or "Gundaraj." Law and order deteriorated, crime rates rose, and kidnapping became rampant. Critics alleged that Lalu allowed criminal elements to thrive for political gain, leading to a loss of public trust.

6. Casteism Accusations

Lalu Yadav has long used caste-based politics to consolidate his voter base, especially among the Yadav and Muslim communities. While this gave him strong support, critics accused him of promoting caste divisions and neglecting merit-based governance. His opponents claim that this strategy stalled Bihar’s progress for years.