Delhi High Court Dismisses Lalu Prasad Yadav's Plea Against CBI FIR

The Delhi High Court has turned down Lalu Prasad Yadav's petition, which sought the cancellation of a CBI FIR related to the alleged land-for-jobs scandal. This ruling has dealt a significant blow to the RJD leader and former railway minister. During the hearing, the court described the petition as frivolous and baseless, thereby rejecting the request to annul the FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

This case pertains to allegations against Yadav regarding the acceptance of land parcels in exchange for providing jobs in the railways during his tenure as railway minister. The CBI is currently investigating the matter, which involves multiple accused and claims of irregularities in recruitment. The High Court's decision does not provide any relief to Yadav, and the investigation will continue. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Yadav, argued that the alleged actions occurred during his official duties as railway minister, asserting that prior approval is necessary before initiating any investigation or inquiry in such cases. In response, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, representing the CBI, contended that such approval was not required. He argued that decisions regarding appointments are made by general managers, not directly by the minister, thus the protection under Section 17A does not apply. The court had previously heard detailed arguments from both sides and allowed time for written submissions before delivering its verdict.

This case involves alleged irregular appointments to Group D positions in the West Central Railway zone based in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, during Yadav's term as railway minister from 2004 to 2009. The CBI has claimed that jobs were provided in exchange for land parcels transferred in the names of Yadav's family members or associates. An FIR was registered on May 18, 2022, against Yadav, his wife, two daughters, unidentified government officials, and private individuals. In his petition, Yadav also raised concerns about the delay, stating that the FIR was filed nearly 14 years after the alleged incidents, while previous investigations had been closed with reports submitted to a competent court. He claimed that reopening the case without disclosing earlier closed reports constitutes an abuse of legal process.