In a significant development, a Delhi court on Friday delivered a scathing order, stating that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members “acted as a criminal syndicate” in the alleged railways land-for-jobs scam. The ruling marks a critical juncture in the long-running case, bringing the political heavyweight and his kin a step closer to a full-fledged criminal trial.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue court, while ordering the framing of charges, accepted the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) argument of an overarching conspiracy. He observed that on the “touchstone of suspicion”—the legal standard for framing charges—there existed a comprehensive conspiracy involving Lalu Yadav and his family.
The court has now listed the matter for the formal framing of charges on January 29, 2025. On that date, the court will record the pleas of the accused, where they will formally admit or deny the charges against them.
The CBI’s case, which the court has found sufficient to proceed with at this stage, revolves around alleged corruption during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009. The agency alleges that appointments to Group-D positions in the Indian Railways’ West Central Zone (Jabalpur) were made in exchange for land parcels.
These land parcels, according to the CBI, were either gifted or sold at throwaway prices to the Yadav family or their close associates by the job aspirants or their families. The probe agency claims these appointments bypassed established recruitment norms and protocols.
Furthermore, the CBI has alleged that the transactions involved benami (proxy) properties, constituting offences of criminal misconduct, criminal conspiracy, and cheating under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code.
The CBI has filed chargesheets against a host of accused, including:
Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Railway Minister and RJD chief.
Rabri Devi, his wife and former Chief Minister of Bihar.
Tejashwi Yadav, their son and Bihar’s current Deputy Chief Minister.
Several other family members and associates.
During recent proceedings, the CBI informed the court that of the 103 accused named in its chargesheet, five have since died.
The order comes at a politically sensitive time in Bihar, where the RJD is a major constituent of the ruling ‘Mahagathbandhan’ (Grand Alliance) government. Tejashwi Yadav serves as the Deputy Chief Minister. The opposition has swiftly seized upon the court’s “criminal syndicate” remark to mount a fresh attack on the state’s ruling alliance.
The accused have consistently denied all charges, labelling the case as “politically motivated” and a weaponisation of central agencies against political opponents. They are expected to vigorously contest the charges during the trial.
With the court accepting the prima facie evidence of a conspiracy, the case now moves to the trial stage. The framing of charges on January 29 will formally set out the specific offences for which Lalu Prasad Yadav and the other accused will stand trial. This judicial validation of the CBI’s conspiracy theory marks one of the most serious legal challenges faced by the Yadav political family, with potential ramifications that extend far beyond the courtroom into the heart of Bihar and
Comments (1)
Before trial and judgment, the Court should not have given such loose comment.