New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday deferred its order on framing of charges in the alleged land-for-job scam involving Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, his family members, and several others.
Special CBI Judge Vishal Gogne, who was scheduled to pronounce the order, said the matter will now be taken up on December 4, when the court is expected to decide whether sufficient evidence exists to frame charges against the accused.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet naming Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, their son and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, and others in connection with the alleged scam.
According to the CBI, during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as Union Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009, several appointments were made in the Group-D category in the West Central Railway zone, headquartered in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, in exchange for parcels of land that were gifted or transferred to members of Yadav’s family or their associates.
The agency has alleged that the appointments violated recruitment norms and were linked to benami property transactions, amounting to criminal conspiracy and misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The court had earlier reserved its order after hearing extensive arguments from Special Public Prosecutor D.P. Singh for the CBI and the defence counsel representing the accused.
The accused have denied all allegations, claiming that the case is politically motivated and unsupported by credible evidence.
The outcome of the court’s forthcoming order on December 4 will determine whether formal charges are framed and the trial proceeds against Lalu Prasad Yadav and others.
