Delhi Court Summons Lalu Yadav In Land-For-Job Scam Case; Tejashwi Yadav, Rabri Devi Also Named In CBI Chargesheet

A Delhi court on Friday (22 September) issued a summon to former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader, Lalu Prasad Yadav, along with all other implicated individuals in relation to the land-for-job scam case. The Rouse Avenue court in Delhi has directed the accused, including former railway officials, to appear before it on 4 October.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi on Thursday that sanctions against three former Railway officials had been duly obtained from the relevant authority. Taking note of this submission, Special CBI Judge Geetanjali Goel scheduled the matter for cognizance of the chargesheet on Friday.

Notably, the case also involves members of Lalu Prasad Yadav's family, namely Rabri Devi and Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, among others.

Special Public Prosecutor DP Singh apprised the court of the Prosecution sanction obtained against the three former officials. Previously, the CBI had secured sanctions from the Home Ministry to file a fresh chargesheet against former Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in connection with the alleged Land-for-Job Scam case.

In July, the CBI had filed a charge sheet against Tejashwi Yadav, his father Lalu Prasad, his mother and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, along with 14 others, in relation to the land-for-jobs scam case.

This charge sheet, which is the second one in the case, was based on newly surfaced documents and evidence following the submission of the initial charge sheet.

Earlier, on 18 May 2022, the investigative agency CBI filed a case against Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, two daughters, and 15 other individuals, including unidentified public servants and private individuals.

The CBI had previously filed the first accusation sheet against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, and others last year in October.

The Land-for-Job Scam case relates to the time when Lalu Yadav served as the Railway Minister, from 2004 to 2009. During his tenure, appointments were made for Group-D positions in the Western Central Region of the Railways, situated in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

Allegations suggest that during this period, individuals transferred lands in exchange for getting jobs through fraudulent practices involving some officials.

In this case, allegations have been made against the accused under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, criminal conspiracy, cheating, and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.