A sharp verbal clash erupted between senior advocate Kapil Sibal and ASG SV Raju in the Delhi High Court during the hearing on Lalu Prasad Yadav’s plea to quash the land-for-jobs case. The court later stepped in to cool tempers and directed both sides to file brief written submissions.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday witnessed a tense and heated exchange between Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju during the hearing of a petition filed by former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav seeking quashing of the alleged land-for-jobs scam case.
Kapil Sibal, appearing on behalf of Lalu Prasad Yadav, strongly argued that the prosecution itself was flawed due to the absence of mandatory sanction required under law. Referring to the role of the investigating agency, he questioned how the case could proceed when the Central Bureau of Investigation had earlier filed a closure report.
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During his submissions, Sibal stated,
“You have to get sanction, how are they arguing against their own case? Closure report was filed by CBI itself.”
Representing the Central Bureau of Investigation, ASG SV Raju objected to Sibal’s arguments and accused him of raising new legal issues at a late stage while also misrepresenting the law.
Interrupting the submissions, Raju said,
“Sibal has argued on a new point. I have to point out the correct law. Mr Sibal makes misleading arguments and doesn’t let me argue,”
which immediately escalated tensions in the courtroom.
Reacting sharply to the allegation, Kapil Sibal strongly denied that he had ever misled the Court. Questioning Raju’s authority to make such claims, Sibal said,
“You don’t even have the honesty to say that I have not misled any court. Never in my life. Don’t dare say that. You may be Additional Solicitor General of India, you are not the judge.”
ASG Raju, however, stood his ground and maintained that it was his professional responsibility to clarify the legal position before the Court. Responding firmly, he said,
“Yes, you have misled the Court, it is my submission and I will point out how you have misled and you don’t allow me to point out.”
As the verbal exchange became more intense, Sibal further questioned Raju’s conduct and experience, making strong remarks on professional standing inside the courtroom.
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He said,
“You are the Additional Solicitor General, not a petty lawyer. You want to reduce yourself to that status, you are welcome. We don’t tolerate this. I don’t know if you have been in this Court enough to know who I am. You have no idea,”
Raju responded in a comparatively calm manner and expressed personal respect for Sibal, while reiterating his duty as a law officer. He stated,
“I have a lot of respect for you, but in such matters I have to point out.”
At this stage, Justice Ravinder Dudeja, who was presiding over the matter, intervened to prevent further escalation and restore order in the courtroom. He observed,
“Let us cool down the atmosphere.”
Following the heated exchange between the two senior advocates, the Delhi High Court brought the hearing to an end for the day. The Court granted liberty to both sides to file brief written submissions in support of their arguments.
It directed that the written notes must be concise, limited to a maximum of five pages, and submitted within one week. The matter will be taken up for further consideration after the written submissions are placed on record.
The land-for-jobs case relates to allegations that during his tenure as Union Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009, Lalu Prasad Yadav allegedly facilitated Group-D appointments in the Indian Railways in exchange for land parcels being transferred to his family members and close associates.
The CBI registered the case in 2022 and later filed multiple chargesheets against Lalu Yadav, his family members, and other accused persons, alleging offences of corruption and criminal conspiracy.
Before the Delhi High Court, Lalu Yadav has challenged the continuation of the proceedings and sought quashing of the case on the ground that the investigation was initiated without obtaining mandatory prior sanction as required under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
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