Land-for-Jobs Scam: Lalu Yadav, Family Face Increased Legal Trouble

Patna-  The legal troubles for RJD chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav escalated on Friday as the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi reserved its decision on taking cognizance of the CBI’s charge sheet in the land-for-jobs scam case. The court will pronounce its order on February 25.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the court that all necessary prosecution sanctions have been obtained against the 30 government employees implicated in the case. In total, 78 accused, including Lalu Yadav and his family members, have been named in the charge sheet.

What is the Land-for-Jobs Scam?

The case pertains to allegations that Lalu Yadav, during his tenure as Union Railway Minister (2004-2009) in the UPA government, illegally acquired land from job seekers in exchange for appointments to Group D positions in the Railways. Investigations revealed that several land parcels were transferred to Lalu’s family members, including Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, and Tej Pratap Yadav.

ED & CBI Interrogations

In January 2024, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned Lalu Yadav and his son Tejashwi Yadav in connection with the case.

• On January 20, Lalu Yadav was interrogated for over 10 hours, reportedly answering most questions with ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and showing signs of frustration.
• On January 30, Tejashwi Yadav faced an 11-hour grilling session by the ED.

CBI’s Findings

According to the CBI, Lalu Yadav allegedly appointed at least 12 individuals to Group D railway jobs in exchange for land transfers to his family members at nominal prices. The registrations were done in the names of Rabri Devi, daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav.

The initial inquiry began in 2021, leading to the official registration of the case. The CBI has identified seven instances where candidates secured railway jobs immediately after their families transferred land to the Yadav family.

With the court set to rule on the charge sheet’s cognizance, this case continues to be a major legal and political challenge for Lalu Yadav and his family.