More trouble has surfaced for Lalu Prasad and his men since Nitish Kumar left the Grand Alliance to lead an NDA government.

The state government has initiated action and sought a probe into cases in which Lalu's sons or partymen might be involved.

On Sunday, Patna police cracked down on the sand mafia and the name of RJD MLA Bhai Birendra cropped up. Around 30 persons, mostly truck drivers and helpers, were arrested. Another operation was launched against the illegal sand mafia in Maner and Bihta areas on Monday, arresting 59 persons and seizing around 500 trucks. "A drive has been launched against the mafia in six districts, including Patna and Bhojpur," deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said.

Over six months ago, then deputy inspector-general of Patna, Shalin, had elaborately probed sand mining in Bhojpur and Saran districts and indicted RJD lawmaker Arun Yadav - considered close to Lalu - and another RJD leader, Subhash Yadav.

The report says mining took place over an area 25 times bigger than permitted by the government, environment rules were being flouted and nobody applied for the state environment impact assessment authority's nod before mining.

Shalin accused mining officials and the administration of ignoring illegal sand mining and overloading of trucks. Sand mining was a major area of conflict when Nitish and Lalu were together in the Grand Alliance government. Just before the alliance broke up, officials in the mines department, held by the RJD, were shuffled, causing further heartburn.

Speaking on Monday's action, chief minister Nitish Kumar said: "I don't target or save anyone. Whatever action is taken will be under the frame of law."

Lalu's troubles do not end there. The new building construction and housing minister, Maheshwar Hazari, has said he will look into the cost incurred in renovating 5 Desh Ratna Marg, the official bungalow of former minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. "If we find irregularities, action will be initiated," Hazari said. Department sources said over Rs 2 crore was spent on renovating the bungalow. Tej Pratap's brother Tejashwi Yadav led the department earlier.

Another problem staring at Lalu is the " mitti scandal". BJP leader Sushil Modi had raised the issue when in Opposition, alleging that soil worth Rs 90 lakh was purchased from the site where Lalu's mall is coming up and sold off to Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, under the forest and environment department then led by Tej Pratap Yadav. The government had denied soil was from the mall site and stressed it was purchased at Rs 40 lakh only. Now, Sushil Modi heads the department and has reportedly asked officials to look into the matter again.

In the CBI FIR against Tejashwi, the probe agency mentions financial losses incurred by the state government because two acres were registered as agricultural land. In the corridors of power, there is talk of action on this issue, especially when a BJP man, Ram Narayan Mandal, is heading the revenue and land reforms department. All ministers joining office have pledged to "review" decisions taken by their RJD predecessors. Not surprisingly, RJD leaders are already crying "witchhunt".