A Delhi court on Friday took a significant step in a high-profile corruption case, formally framing charges against former Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, along with his immediate family. The case, investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), revolves around the alleged 'land-for-jobs' scam that took place during Lalu Yadav's tenure at the Railways Ministry.
The Court's Stern Observations
Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court, while passing the order, made scathing observations. He stated that the evidence pointed towards an 'overarching conspiracy' by Lalu Yadav and his family, where public employment in the railways was used as a bargaining chip to acquire properties.
"It appears that the Ministry of Railways was used as a personal fiefdom by Lalu Yadav," Judge Gogne remarked. He further noted that the chargesheets strongly indicated that close associates of the former minister facilitated the transfer of land in exchange for railway jobs across the country, acting as co-conspirators.
Details of the Alleged Scam
The CBI's case pertains to the period between 2004 and 2009, when Lalu Prasad Yadav was the Union Railways Minister. The agency alleges that during this time, land parcels were transferred to the Yadav family and their associates at prices significantly below the market rate. In return, appointments were allegedly made to Group-D substitute positions in the Central Railway.
The investigative agency claimed to have found several discrepancies in the documents submitted by the candidates who were given jobs. Notably, the CBI alleged that some candidates had sequential roll numbers on their caste and residence certificates, suggesting these documents were obtained 'altogether and for a common purpose'.
In a striking claim, the CBI stated that Lalu Yadav and his family acquired over 1 lakh square feet of land for merely Rs 26 lakh, while the prevailing circle rate for the property was over Rs 4.39 crore. The agency accused Lalu of influencing railway officers to get the land owners, or their family members, appointed to railway posts.
Who Has Been Charged?
The court framed charges against a total of 46 accused after scrutinizing the CBI's list. Originally, the CBI had named 103 individuals as accused in the case. Of these, five have since passed away.
From the remaining 98, Special Judge Gogne discharged 52 individuals. Those discharged included all Group-D railway substitutes who had not parted with their land, as well as railway officials allegedly involved in these specific instances. Consequently, charges were framed against the remaining accused, which prominently include:
- Lalu Prasad Yadav (RJD supremo & former Railway Minister)
- Rabri Devi (his wife & former Bihar Chief Minister)
- Tejashwi Yadav (son & Bihar Deputy Chief Minister)
- Tej Pratap Yadav (son)
- Misa Bharti (daughter)
The framing of charges marks a critical juncture in the legal process, indicating that the court has found sufficient prima facie evidence to proceed with a trial against the accused. The case will now move forward, with the court setting dates for the examination of witnesses and evidence.
