Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi today iterated his allegation that RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his family members had close links with people engaged in illegal sand mining in Bihar.

He came up with documents to substantiate his claim and maintained that a company owned by family members of RJD Sandesh MLA Arun Kumar had bought five flats in Maa Marachhiya Devi complex in west Patna's Saguna Mor from former chief minister and Lalu's wife Rabri Devi for Rs 2.56 crore on a single day.

"The deal was struck on June 13 this year," Sushil told the press and added that firms were directly or indirectly linked to Subhash Yadav, who is allegedly involved in illegal sand mining in Bihar, had bought three flats in the same apartment on that day.

On August 7, Sushil had revealed the details of the flats the companies linked to Subhash Yadav had bought. According to the purported copy of the registration deed that Sushil shared today, Kiran Durga Contractors Private Limited - which has Ranjan, Dipu Kumar and Kiran Devi as its directors - bought the five flats. While Ranjan and Dipu are sons of the RJD MLA, Kiran is his wife.

Sushil said Rabri sold the property in fear of coming under the income tax department scanner, which might have led to seizure of her property.

Replying to a query over what legality was involved if someone sells one's property to someone, Sushil said if one bought five flats on a single day and of family members of an RJD MLA owned the company, it did introduce an element of doubt. "I allege that the companies belonging to Subhash Yadav and the families of Arun Kumar were used as a means to convert black money earned from illegal sand mining into white. I would provide all the details about these companies to the income tax department, requesting for a thorough probe," said Sushil.

To establish the proximity between Subhash and Arun, Sushil showed a purported copy of the bank agreement that Kiran Durga Contractors Private Limited made to buy a Mitsubishi Pajero in 2015 for Rs 24.31 lakh in which Subhash had signed as a witness. "I fail to understand that why would a company incorporated for undertaking construction works, would buy an SUV," Sushil questioned.

He said the firm had bought 10 tractors and other machines used by firms linked to Subhash for sand mining.

Reached out for comment, the RJD MLA accused Sushil of levelling baseless allegations against the RJD leaders in a bid to disturb RJD's August 27 rally. He said Sushil had lost his mental balance and was trying to make an issue out of nothing. "What is so wrong if a company has bought few flats?" asked the RJD MLA.

Replying to a query on his role in illegal sand mining, Arun said: "I have around 500 buffaloes and cows, am also into fish farming and look after my fields. I have nothing to do with sand mining."

Sushil, on the other hand, appeared to be in no mood to relent and claimed he would make one more revelation about the assets of Lalu's family.