Delhi court frames charges against Lalu Yadav, family in Railways land-for-jobs case
Railways land-for-jobs case: A Delhi court on Friday concluded that there is enough material to put RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members on trial in the alleged Railways land-for-jobs scam, observing that the accusations point to a well-planned misuse of public office. Special Judge Vishal Gogne, while ordering the framing of charges, said the evidence collected by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) suggests that railway recruitments were allegedly manipulated as part of a larger scheme to obtain properties for personal benefit.
The court rejected pleas seeking discharge, holding that the allegations could not be brushed aside at this stage of the proceedings. In its order, the court remarked that the case reflects a coordinated pattern rather than isolated transactions. It noted that Lalu Yadav, along with close family members and associates, appeared to have acted in concert, with public employment allegedly being used as a tool to secure land parcels.
The court accepted the CBI’s claim that several individuals linked to the former railway minister played active roles in executing the alleged arrangement. Charges will now be framed against 46 accused persons, including Lalu Yadav and members of his family, out of the 98 accused named in the case who are alive.
However, the court granted relief to 52 others, stating that the prosecution had failed to place sufficient evidence against them to justify a trial.
The ruling comes after repeated attempts by Lalu Yadav to halt the case were unsuccessful, with both the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court earlier refusing to interfere with the trial process.
Case Background
The investigation centres on allegations that during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as Union Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009, appointments to Group D posts in the Railways were allegedly made in return for land transfers. The CBI has claimed that job seekers or their relatives transferred land in Patna and other locations to members of the Yadav family or entities associated with them, often at prices far below prevailing market rates.
According to investigators, recruitment procedures were bypassed, and appointments were allegedly granted as part of a quid pro quo arrangement. The Yadav family has denied all wrongdoing, asserting that the case is politically motivated and lacks factual basis.
- With inputs from agencies
