New Delhi: Former Union Railway Minister and ex-Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has suffered a major legal setback after a special CBI court in Delhi ordered the framing of charges against him in the alleged land-for-jobs scam. The Rouse Avenue Court on Friday directed that charges be framed against Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, daughter Misa Bharti, son Tejashwi Yadav, and more than 40 other accused in the case.
The court has also instructed all the accused to appear in person during the proceedings. The case relates to alleged irregularities in recruitment to Group D posts in the Indian Railways during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009.
According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), railway jobs were allegedly given in exchange for land parcels that were transferred in the names of Lalu Yadav’s family members and close associates. The agency claims that candidates who received appointments had either transferred land directly or ensured that property was registered in the names of individuals linked to the former minister.
The CBI has further alleged that several of these transactions involved benami properties and were part of a larger criminal conspiracy involving corruption and abuse of official position. The court has ordered that Lalu Prasad Yadav be tried under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act as well as various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Advocate Ejaz Ahmad, appearing in the matter, said the court has directed framing of charges under IPC Sections 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Misa Bharti, Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav, and Hema Yadav. Formal framing of charges is scheduled for January 29.
The CBI has already filed a chargesheet against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and other accused. The agency maintains that appointments to Group D posts in the West Central Railway zone, headquartered in Jabalpur, were made in violation of recruitment norms during the period when Lalu Yadav was the Railway Minister.
The case continues to be one of the most high-profile corruption probes involving senior political leaders, with further hearings expected in the coming weeks.
