The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has announced to a Delhi court that it has received the necessary sanctions to prosecute former railway minister Lalu Prasad in connection with a corruption case famously known as the land-for-jobs scam. This development marks a significant step in the ongoing investigation that has captivated public and political spheres alike.
During a session presided over by Special Judge Vishal Gogne on Friday, the CBI submitted that it had secured the prosecution sanctions required for Lalu Prasad. However, the agency noted that sanctions for about 30 other individuals implicated in the case are still pending. Consequently, the CBI has requested an additional 15 days from the court to gather the needed documents for the remaining accused.
The land-for-jobs case involves allegations that during Lalu Prasad’s tenure as the railway minister from 2004 to 2009, numerous Group-D railway positions were offered in the West Central Zone based in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, in exchange for land deeds favorably transferred to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader’s family and associates.
The investigation, which officially began on May 18, 2022, initially targeted Lalu Prasad alongside 15 others, including his wife, two daughters, and various unnamed public officials and private individuals. These charges stem from accusations that these land transactions were directly tied to job recruitments, thereby establishing a quid pro quo arrangement that benefited Prasad’s familial and political connections.
