The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the CBI on a plea filed by former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi challenging a trial court’s refusal to supply her 1,600 unrelied documents in the land-for-jobs case. Justice Manoj Jain has sought the agency’s response and listed the matter for hearing on April 1.
Rabri Devi has approached the high court against a March 18 order of the trial court, which had rejected similar pleas by her and her husband, RJD chief and former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. The trial court declined to provide the documents, observing that supplying them in bulk would “place the cart before the horse” and risk throwing the judicial process into “complete disarray”.
The accused had argued that access to these unrelied documents—materials seized during investigation but not relied upon in the chargesheet—was essential for effective cross-examination of witnesses and preparation of their defence.
However, the trial court took a firm view, stating that its control over trial proceedings could not be “appropriated by the accused under the veneer of cross-examination”. It also noted a “latent intent” to delay the proceedings and emphasised the need to conduct evidence recording in line with statutory provisions to ensure both fairness and expeditious trial.
The court further held that judicial precedents do not mandate the supply of such documents as a matter of right and that the accused could not claim prejudice at the initial stage of trial. It pointed out that the accused had already been given sufficient opportunity to inspect these documents.
The trial court had also dismissed similar applications filed by other accused, including Lalu Prasad’s personal secretary R.K. Mahajan, who sought one document, and former railway general manager Maheep Kapoor, who sought 23 documents.
The land-for-jobs case pertains to alleged irregular Group D appointments in the West Central Zone of the Indian Railways in Jabalpur during Lalu Prasad’s tenure as railway minister between 2004 and 2009. According to the CBI, these appointments were made in exchange for land parcels transferred by candidates or their families to members of Lalu Prasad’s family or associates.
The agency registered the case on May 18, 2022, naming Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, their two daughters, unidentified public servants, and private individuals among the accused.
In its earlier findings, the trial court noted allegations that Lalu Prasad misused his official position to facilitate appointments, while Mahajan allegedly coordinated with railway officials, including Kapoor, to process lists of selected candidates.
On January 9, the trial court ordered framing of corruption charges against Lalu Prasad, his family members, and others. Charges have been framed against 41 accused, while 52 were discharged. Of the 103 individuals named in the CBI chargesheet, five have died.
Meanwhile, Lalu Prasad’s separate plea seeking quashing of the FIR and the charges framed in the case remains pending before the Delhi High Court.
