A Delhi court on Friday took a significant step in the high-profile land-for-jobs case, ordering the framing of charges against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, and their children. The ruling alliance partners, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), welcomed the decision, while the RJD vehemently denounced it as a politically motivated attack.
Court's Stern Observations and Charges
Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi directed the framing of charges against the accused, which include Leader of Opposition in Bihar Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav, and Misa Bharti. The case is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In a strong remark, Judge Gogne noted, "There are strong indications that Lalu Yadav and his family members were operating as a criminal enterprise… to usurp land." This observation underscores the gravity of the allegations, which pertain to a purported scam where railway jobs were allegedly exchanged for prime land parcels during Lalu Prasad Yadav's tenure as the Union Railway Minister.
RJD's Cry of Political Vendetta
The RJD immediately launched a counter-offensive, reiterating its long-standing claim that the case is a tool for political vendetta. RJD national spokesperson Subodh Kumar Mehta targeted the central investigative agencies, calling them instruments of political persecution.
Mehta stated, "The conviction rate of CBI, ED and Income Tax cases is less than one per cent. Most cases crash-land in appellate courts." He expressed dismay at the framing of charges, highlighting that the case had been quashed twice before being filed afresh for a third time. "It is a pure case of political vendetta and a bid to tarnish the image of Lalu Prasad, who will not be cowed down by such actions," Mehta asserted.
JD(U) and BJP's Reaction: A Call for Schools on Seized Land
In stark contrast, the ruling NDA allies in Bihar, the JD(U) and BJP, supported the court's move. JD(U) chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar told The Indian Express that the framing of charges was expected as the "CBI has enough material evidence."
Kumar made a notable suggestion, saying, "Lalu Prasad had accepted land from his close relatives including his brother. We request the court to expedite the trial. Once conviction comes, the government should open schools, hostels and shelter homes on the seized properties." This proposal to use any eventually confiscated assets for public welfare projects like schools adds a new dimension to the political discourse surrounding the case.
Neeraj Kumar also claimed that the development had cut short Tejashwi Yadav's trip abroad, forcing him to return to India following the RJD's poor performance in the recent Bihar polls.
Echoing the JD(U)'s stance, BJP national spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan said that the charge-framing signifies that the prosecuting agency possesses "enough evidence against Lalu Prasad and his family members."
During the court proceedings, an interesting familial dynamic was observed. Tejashwi and Tej Pratap Yadav were present together but reportedly avoided conversing with each other, hinting at the personal and political pressures the family is under.
This case continues to be a major flashpoint in Bihar's politics, with the court's decision to proceed to trial setting the stage for a protracted legal and political battle. The JD(U)'s suggestion regarding the use of seized property has already shifted the narrative, framing the potential outcome as a public gain versus private alleged malfeasance.
