A Delhi court has taken a significant step in the high-profile land-for-jobs scandal, ordering the framing of formal corruption charges against former Bihar Chief Minister and Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, along with several members of his immediate family.
Court's Stern Observations and Key Accused
Special Judge Vishal Gogne, presiding over the CBI court, delivered a strongly-worded order on Friday. The judge stated that Lalu Prasad Yadav had allegedly used his ministerial position as a "personal fiefdom" to operate a criminal enterprise. The court has set January 29 as the date for the formal framing of charges.
The individuals against whom charges have been ordered include Lalu Yadav's wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, their sons and prominent political figures Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, as well as daughter Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav. They face charges under sections including 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The Core of the Alleged Scam
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleges that the scam took place during Lalu Yadav's tenure as the Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009. The prosecution claims that appointments in the Group-D category of the Indian Railways' West Central Zone in Jabalpur were traded for land.
The court noted that public employment was used as a bargaining chip. In a clear quid-pro-quo arrangement, land parcels were allegedly gifted or transferred to the Yadav family members or their associates by the individuals who secured the railway jobs. The CBI has asserted that these appointments bypassed established norms and involved benami (proxy) property transactions, constituting criminal misconduct and conspiracy.
Case Status and Upcoming Proceedings
Out of the 103 individuals originally named in the CBI's chargesheet, the court has now ordered charges against 41 persons and discharged 52, which included several railway officials. The CBI informed the court that five of the accused have since passed away.
The order for framing charges was pronounced on January 9, as scheduled after a hearing on December 19. The next step in the legal process is scheduled for January 23, ahead of the formal framing of charges on January 29.
All the accused have consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that the case is politically motivated. The proceedings continue to be closely watched, given the high-profile nature of the accused and the serious allegations at the heart of the case.
