Patna: The state government has handed over probe into the soil scam to the vigilance bure-au, in what could spell more trouble for RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his family.

The scam surfaced when the Grand Alliance was in power. The then government gave a clean chit to then forest and environment minister and Lalu's son Tej Pratap Yadav. But following a PIL by a high court lawyer, after which the court asked the government to file an affidavit on steps taken, the BJP-backed Nitish Kumar government decided to hand over probe to the vigilance bureau.

BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi had highlighted the soil scam, or " mitti ghotala", when he was in the Opposition (he is now deputy chief minister and also heads the forest and environment ministry).

Sushil had alleged that soil worth Rs 90 lakh was purchased from the site of an under-construction mall owned by Lara Projects Pvt Ltd, a company in which Tej Pratap and Tejashwi are partners. Though the zoo director denied the charge, a probe conducted by the then government raised questions about soil being purchased by the zoo.

The purpose behind purchasing soil given by the forest department was to strengthen the boundary walls of an all-weather path for morning walkers. But the government probe pointed out that in 2012 there was a proposal for landscaping and redesigning of the zoo and relocation of animal houses, forest rest house and the director's residence. The government probe sought to know how the department began planning for a pathway.

It also pointed at proposals like a theme park, evolution garden, butterfly garden and others that were sidelined for the pathway. And instead of using funds from Airport Authority, state plan funds were used. It also pointed out that no tender was floated for purchase of soil.

It raised questions about a high pathway inside the zoo premises, saying it will have an adverse impact on animals.