Today, On 9th January, Rouse Avenue court has formally framed corruption and criminal conspiracy charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and several other accused, marking a major development in the high-profile Railway land-for-jobs case.
A Delhi court charged Lalu Prasad Yadav, President of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), along with his wife Rabri Devi, and their children Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav, and Misa Bharti, along with several others, with corruption and criminal conspiracy related to the alleged Railways land-for-jobs scam.
Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne from the Rouse Avenue courts issued the order.
Lalu Yadav faces corruption charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, along with other offenses as per the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
His family members are charged with cheating and criminal conspiracy.
ALSO READ: Tej Pratap, Hema Yadav, and Others Granted Bail in Land-for-Job Scam Case
Judge Gogne noted the involvement of Lalu Yadav and his family in operating as a criminal enterprise engaged in an overarching conspiracy, using public employment as leverage to acquire properties.
It stated that the chargesheet indicates Lalu Yadav’s close associates facilitated the acquisition of land in exchange for railway jobs and placements nationwide.
The Court declared,
“The plea of Mr. Lalu Yadav and his family members to be discharged is completely unwarranted,”
The court further observed that the Ministry of Railways had been exploited as a personal fiefdom by Lalu Yadav.
Ultimately, the court announced that out of 98 remaining accused in the case, charges are being framed against 46 individuals, including Lalu Yadav and his family, while 52 others are being discharged.
The CBI was represented by Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) DP Singh and Advocates Manu Mishra, Imaan Khera, and Garima Saxena.
Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, along with Advocates Varun Jain, Navin Kumar, and Satish Kumar, represented Lalu Yadav.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Tejashwi Yadav, Hema Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav, and others, alleging that during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister, jobs in the Indian Railways were exchanged for land parcels transferred to his family.
The court had previously reserved its order on September 11 after hearing extensive arguments from both sides.
Representing the CBI, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) D.P. Singh asserted that there was sufficient evidence to frame charges against all accused, highlighting a clear quid pro quo regarding recruitment in the Railways.
In contrast, Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, defending Lalu Prasad Yadav, labeled the case as “politically motivated.”
He argued that no evidence substantiates the claim of land being transferred in exchange for government jobs, stating,
“There are registered sale deeds that show land was purchased for monetary consideration,”
Also insisted that no recruitment rules were breached, nor any special favors granted by the former minister.
Singh further noted that no General Manager or Railway official stated they were influenced or instructed by Lalu Prasad in recruitment decisions.
He emphasized to the court,
“Merely calling him a kingpin is not sufficient. There is no evidence against him,”
ALSO READ: Railways Land-For-Jobs Scam| Lalu Yadav’s Aide Amit Katyal Granted Bail
The investigation arises from allegations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) stating that during Yadav’s term as Union Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009, he granted Group D job positions to individuals in exchange for land parcels transferred to his family at minimal costs.
According to the claims, job seekers or their relatives purportedly sold or donated land in Patna and other regions to Lalu’s family and related firms. Investigators assert that these jobs were dispensed without following a public recruitment procedure and that these dealings represented a quid pro quo arrangement.
The Yadav family has denied these charges, asserting that they are politically motivated.
Simultaneously, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating the money laundering aspect of the case and has seized properties valued at over Rs.600 crore as proceeds of crime.
In related news, the Supreme Court on July 18 declined a plea by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav aimed at staying the trial court’s proceedings connected to the land-for-jobs scam.
The Bench remarked that it would not intervene in what it deemed a minor matter, allowing the High Court to address the main issue of quashing the chargesheet.
Additionally, the Delhi High Court dismissed in May a plea filed by the former Union Railway Minister to quash the FIR, chargesheets, and the cognizance taken by the trial court concerning the ongoing investigation by the CBI into the land-for-job scam.
In 2023, a Delhi court granted bail to Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and his wife Rabri Devi in response to a new CBI chargesheet related to the alleged scam.
Special Judge Geetanjali Goel of the Rouse Avenue Court provided relief to the accused after they complied with summons issued against them. In July 2023, the CBI had submitted a chargesheet against Lalu, his wife, and their son in relation to the alleged scam, marking the second chargesheet filed by the agency in this case.
Alongside the three Yadav family members, 14 other individuals and entities were also named in the chargesheet.
Case Title: CBI v. Lalu Prasad Yadav & Ors.