By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: The troubles of former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD National President, Lalu Prasad Yadav, are likely to deepen once again. The Ministry of Home Affairs has granted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) permission to prosecute Lalu in the ongoing land-for-jobs case. This information was revealed by the CBI at the Rouse Avenue Court.
On 18 September, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court issued summons to Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav, and other accused in the money laundering case linked to the land-for-jobs scandal. They have all been asked to appear in court on 7 October.
With the recent approval to prosecute Lalu Prasad Yadav, the CBI informed the court that it would take an additional 15 days to obtain permission to prosecute the remaining accused. Consequently, Special Judge Vishal Gogne has scheduled the next hearing for 15 October.
The CBI also stated that the process to obtain sanctions against other accused individuals is ongoing. Approval is still pending for several officials involved in the case. In the last hearing, the CBI reported that permission to prosecute 32 public servants, including Lalu, had yet to be received.
This marks the first time Tej Pratap Yadav has been summoned in connection with this case. While initially no charges were filed against him, he served as a director in AK Infosys Limited, and the court has now called for his involvement. The court also noted that his role in the case could not be ruled out.
Lalu Prasad Yadav is accused of coercing individuals into handing over or selling land to his family in exchange for jobs. This alleged misconduct occurred between 2004 and 2009, when he served as Railway Minister. According to the CBI chargesheet, Lalu Yadav made appointments to Group D positions in the railways, violating established recruitment rules.
Union Minister Raj Bhushan Nishad commented on the case, suggesting that the entire Yadav family could face imprisonment. He stated, “The law is doing its job, and it seems these people will definitely be punished.”
The land-for-jobs scam, which dates back 15 years to Lalu’s tenure as Railway Minister, came under scrutiny when the CBI registered a case on 18 May 2022. It is alleged that individuals who were hired for railway jobs transferred their land to the Yadav family in return for the positions.
