Delhi Court Frames Charges Against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav & Others In Land For Jobs Scam; Calls Them 'Criminal Syndicate'

A Delhi Court on Friday framed charges against RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the corruption case related to the alleged land for jobs scam case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Special Judge Vishal Gogne of Rouse Avenue Courts said Yadav and his family acted as a criminal syndicate and there was overarching conspiracy on their part.

“The court finds on the touchstone of suspicion that there existed an overarching conspiracy by Lalu Prasad Yadav towards using public employment as a bargaining chip for receiving immovable properties for his family (daughters, wife and sons),” the judge said while pronouncing the order.

The Court also said that the chargesheet of CBI indicates that close associates of Yadav facilitated as conspirators.

It rejected the plea for discharge filed by Yadav and his family as being completely unwarranted.

Out of the 98 accused persons, the Court discharged 52 individuals, which included some CPOs. Charges have been framed against 41 accused persons.

The Court also framed corruption charges against Yadav's wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and various other accused.

A detailed order is awaited. A total of 107 individuals are named as accused in the case. However, five of them expired and proceedings qua them stand abated.

CBI had filed a chargesheet in the case on October 10, 2022, against 16 persons. Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, daughter Misa Bharti and other individuals are accused in the matter.

It is the case of the agency that various residents of Bihar were appointed as substitutes in “Group-D posts” from 2004 to 2009 in different zones of Railways located at Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur and Hajipur.

It has been alleged that in lieu of the same, the individuals themselves or their families transferred their land in the name of then Union Minister of Railways Lalu Prasad Yadav's family members and a company namely M/s AK Infosystems Private Limited, which was subsequently taken over by his family members.

CBI had claimed that the appointments made in the railways were not in consonance with the standards and guidelines established by the Indian Railways for hiring.