Patna, Aug 29 (IANS): RJD chief Lalu Prasad's wife Rabri Devi, younger son Tejashwi Yadav and elder daughter Misa Bharti were on Tuesday questioned in connection with an alleged "benami" (proxy) properties case by Income Tax Department personnel here, officials said.

"Soon after the three reached the Income Tax office here around 10 a.m., they were questioned for over five hours."

According to department officials, the development was kept a closely guarded secret in view of security threat involved.

Rabri Devi is former Bihar Chief Minister while Tejashwi is a former Deputy Chief Minister and currently Leader of Opposition in the state assembly. Misa Bharti is a Rajya Sabha member of the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

A senior RJD leader told IANS that two days after the party organised a successful anti-BJP rally attended by leaders of 16 opposition parties in Patna, the Centre was again misusing the Income Tax Department to "harass Lalu-ji's family members".

In May, the department had raided 22 places in and around Delhi in connection with the case after senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushil Kumar Modi claimed Lalu Prasad was connected to hundreds of "benami" properties.