Patna: RJD leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has faced another setback in the land-for-jobs case. The Supreme Court has rejected his request to pause the trial court proceedings. The court said that a similar petition is already being heard by the Delhi High Court.
The petition was filed by Lalu through his lawyer, Mudit Gupta. He asked the Supreme Court to delay the trial court hearing until 12 August. However, the bench of Justice MM Sundaresh and Justice N Kotishwar Singh said the trial court can decide whether to frame charges based on what the High Court decides. If the charges are framed before the High Court gives its decision, then the petition there will become useless.
This is not the first time Lalu has asked for a stay. On 18 July, the Supreme Court had also refused to stop the case. Lalu is accused of giving railway jobs in return for land when he was the Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009.
The CBI says that several people got railway jobs by giving their land to Lalu’s family and associates. The agency has filed a charge sheet in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court against Lalu and others, including his family members. Now, with the Supreme Court refusing to help, the trial is expected to move forward soon.
