Delhi court charges Lalu, Tejashwi and others in land-for-jobs scam, calls them ‘criminal syndicate’

A Delhi court on Friday framed criminal charges against RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav , his wife Rabri Devi , son Tejashwi Yadav , daughter Misa Bharti , and several others in the high-profile land-for-jobs scam case registered by the CBI. Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts described the accused as a criminal syndicate, observing that there was an overarching conspiracy to use public employment as a bargaining tool to acquire immovable properties for the family and close associates.

The court noted that Lalu Yadav allegedly turned the railway ministry into a personal fiefdom during his tenure as Union Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009. Public jobs, specifically in Group-D positions across several railway zones including Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Hajipur, were allegedly given in exchange for land parcels. These properties were transferred either directly to members of the Yadav family or to M/s AK Infosystems Private Limited, a company later acquired by them. The CBI claims that these appointments violated official norms and involved benami transactions, amounting to criminal misconduct and conspiracy.

Out of 107 accused named in the case, charges have been framed against 41 individuals, while 52 others, including some Central Police Officers, were discharged. Five accused have passed away, and proceedings against them stand abated. The court rejected all pleas for discharge filed by Lalu Yadav and his family as unwarranted. The matter is now posted for formal trial proceedings later this month, with a detailed order awaited.

The land-for-jobs scam revolved around allegations that during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as railway minister, appointments to public positions were directly linked to land transfers. Individuals seeking employment in the Group-D category of the Indian Railways were allegedly asked to transfer land in the names of the Yadav family or their associates. In effect, public jobs were treated as bargaining chips to enrich the family, turning official recruitment into a channel for personal gain. Close associates of Lalu Yadav were accused of acting as co-conspirators to facilitate these illegal transfers.

In addition to the land-for-jobs case, Lalu Yadav faces multiple legal battles. In the IRCTC hotel scam, he and his family face charges related to irregular allocation of hotel contracts, which are also under trial in Delhi courts. Lalu Yadav has also been convicted in multiple fodder scam cases in Jharkhand, including the Doranda treasury case, involving illegal withdrawal of government funds. He received prison sentences and fines in these cases, though some sentences have been stayed or mitigated on appeal.

The framing of charges in the land-for-jobs case marks a significant development in Lalu Yadav’s long-running legal troubles. Despite multiple convictions and ongoing trials, he continues to play an active role in Bihar politics, keeping the spotlight on his legal and political journey.