The Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved its order on whether to defer the trial court proceedings against former Bihar chief minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members in the CBI’s land-for-jobs case.
Justice Ravinder Dedeja was informed by Yadav’s counsel that a plea seeking quashing of the FIR—on grounds of absence of mandatory sanctions under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act—was already scheduled for hearing on August 12.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Yadav, requested the high court to ensure that the trial court defers hearing arguments on framing of charges, which are scheduled to begin July 26. “Let the trial court hear my arguments on charge after this petition before the High Court is decided,” Sibal urged.
Appearing alongside Sibal, senior advocate Maninder Singh argued that if the trial court proceeds before the high court rules on the plea, the petition would become infructuous.
The Supreme Court had earlier refused to stay the trial court proceedings on July 18. Similarly, the Delhi High Court, in its order dated May 29, declined to impose a stay, citing no compelling reasons.
In the present case, the CBI alleges that Group D appointments were made in the West Central Railway, Jabalpur, during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister (2004–2009), in exchange for land parcels transferred to his family or associates. The FIR was filed in May 2022 against Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, and unnamed officials and private individuals.
Yadav, in his petition, sought quashing of the FIR and three related chargesheets filed in 2022, 2023, and 2024. He claimed the FIR was lodged after a 14-year delay, despite earlier investigations being closed through a formal closure report. The reopening, he said, was “an abuse of the process of law.”
He also argued that the fresh probe was illegal as it lacked the mandatory sanction required under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, rendering the proceedings “void ab initio”.
Calling the entire case a product of “regime revenge and political vendetta,” Yadav’s petition said the investigation was driven by mala fide intent and was in violation of his fundamental right to a fair inquiry.
The High Court has issued notice to the CBI and fixed August 12 as the next date of hearing.
