SC Refuses to Halt Lalu Yadav Trial in Land-for-Jobs Scam
Top Court Declines to Stay Proceedings but Exempts RJD Chief from Personal Appearance; Delhi HC to Expedite Hearing
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 18th July: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s decision not to stay trial court proceedings against him in the alleged land-for-jobs scam case.
A Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Koteshwar Singh stated that it was “not inclined to interfere with the matter at this stage.” However, offering a partial relief to Yadav, the bench observed, “Considering the fact and circumstances of the case we are inclined to pass further order to the effect that he may not be personally present and therefore his appearance is dispensed with. We request the High Court to expedite the hearing. Disposed of accordingly.” The Court clarified that observations made by the High Court in its impugned order will not prejudice the final outcome of the case.
Yadav had moved the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court order from June this year, which had declined his application to stay the CBI proceedings. He had sought the quashing of the First Information Report (FIR) and the three chargesheets filed in 2022, 2023, and 2024, along with consequential orders of cognisance.
His primary argument before the high court was that the FIR, lodged in 2022, came after a significant delay of 14 years, despite the CBI’s initial inquiries and investigations having been closed with a closure report. A key contention raised by Yadav’s counsel was the applicability of Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, which mandates prior approval for investigating offences committed by a public servant relating to official functions.
Understanding the Land-for-Jobs Case
The land-for-jobs scam case centers on allegations of irregularities in Group-D appointments made in the West Central Zone of the Indian Railway, based in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. These appointments allegedly occurred during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as the Union Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009. It is alleged that these jobs were granted in return for land parcels gifted or transferred by the recruits to the names of the RJD supremo’s family members or associates.
The case was formally registered on May 18, 2022, implicating Yadav, his wife, two daughters, and other unidentified public officials and private individuals.
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