Land-for-jobs scam: Delhi court grants bail to RJD leaders Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav

A court on Wednesday granted bail to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, his wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and their son Tejashwi Yadav in the alleged land-for-jobs scam.

Special CBI Judge Geetanjali Goel granted bail to Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav after they appeared before the court in the case in pursuance of summons issued against them.

The special court, while taking cognisance of a fresh (second) chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the accused persons in the case, had summoned them to appear before it on October 4. The special court had said that the evidence “prima facie” showed commission of various offences, including corruption, criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery.

Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav was named as an accused for the first time in the case in the second chargesheet. As per the central investigating agency, irregular appointments were allegedly made during the tenure of Lalu Prasad as Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009 in exchange of lands that were either gifted or sold to the Lalu Prasad’s family members in violation of norms and procedures of the Indian Railways for recruitment.

It has been alleged by the CBI that as a quid pro quo, the candidates seeking jobs in the Railways allegedly sold their lands to the family members of the RJD chief at highly discounted rates directly or indirectly and they were appointed in various zonal offices of the Railways.

The central investigating agency has also named 14 individuals and entities besides Lalu Yadav, Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav in the second chargesheet. The CBI had filed the first chargesheet in the case in October 2022 against Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi and others. The RJD chief, who has been convicted in fodder scam cases, is currently out on bail in those cases.