New Delhi: The legal troubles of former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav have deepened, with a Delhi court framing charges against him, his family, and 38 others in the high-profile land-for-jobs case. A total of 41 accused will now face trial, while 52 others have been acquitted.
Lalu’s eldest daughter, Misa Bharti, and his sons, Tej Pratap and Tejashwi Yadav, appeared before the Rouse Avenue Court on Friday for the hearing, which stems from a case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Special Judge Vishal Gogne said the Yadav family operated “like a criminal gang” and hatched a “widespread conspiracy” to acquire property using government jobs as leverage. The judge stated:
“The court finds, on the basis of suspicion, that Lalu Prasad Yadav hatched a widespread conspiracy to use government jobs as a bargaining tool to acquire immovable properties for his family.”
Charges have been framed under Sections 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The next hearing is scheduled for 29 January.
CBI Allegations
The CBI has accused Lalu, his wife and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap, and daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, among others, of conspiring to acquire land between 2004 and 2009, when Lalu was Union Railway Minister.
According to the agency, people from Bihar were appointed to ‘Group-D’ posts in various railway zones in Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Hajipur. In return, the land of these individuals or their families was allegedly transferred to the Lalu family or a company, AK Infosystems Private Limited, later controlled by the family.
The CBI claims many land transfers occurred before the jobs were given, with gift deeds often prepared in advance. It also alleges that Lalu’s close associate Bhola Yadav instructed villagers to transfer land in exchange for railway jobs, with the recipients later receiving cash payments.
Daughters Also Named
The charge sheet extends beyond Lalu and his sons, naming his daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav. They are accused of receiving land at nominal prices as part of the alleged scheme.
What Happens Next
The framing of charges means the court has accepted, based on evidence, that there is a prima facie case against Lalu Yadav. The trial will proceed with arguments from both sides, after which a verdict will be delivered. Lalu Yadav has the option to appeal against the lower court’s decision in a higher court.
