Lalu Prasad Yadav Faces Charges in Land-for-Jobs Scam

Charges Filed Against Lalu Prasad Yadav

A court in Delhi has formally charged Lalu Prasad Yadav, the former Chief Minister of Bihar and leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, in connection with a money-laundering investigation tied to a purported land-for-jobs scheme.

The allegations suggest that during his tenure as Union Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009, Yadav was involved in the illegal acquisition of land at significantly reduced rates in exchange for job placements in Group-D roles within the Indian Railways.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitted its chargesheet on October 10, 2022, which included Yadav and his spouse, Rabri Devi, among others.

During the proceedings, Special Judge Vishal Gogne remarked that Yadav and his family operated as a criminal organization, indicating a broader conspiracy to leverage public employment for personal gain.

According to the judge, the evidence presented by the CBI suggested that Yadav's close associates were also implicated as conspirators. The court dismissed a request for discharge from Yadav and his family, deeming it unjustified.

In total, 103 individuals were named as defendants in this case, with five having passed away, as reported by a news outlet.

Out of the remaining accused, the court discharged 52 individuals, including railway substitutes who had not relinquished their land and certain railway officials.

However, charges were confirmed against the others involved, including Rabri Devi and Yadav's son, Tejashwi Prasad.

The CBI has claimed that Yadav's family received land parcels at prices far below market value, with those transferring the land allegedly receiving jobs in return.

It is alleged that Yadav's family acquired over 100,000 square feet of land for merely Rs 26 lakh, while the actual market value was estimated to exceed Rs 4.39 crore.