The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to postpone the trial of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in the alleged land-for-jobs scam, observing that framing of charges by the trial court would not render his pending petition in the Delhi High Court “infructuous”.
A bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh dismissed Yadav’s latest plea seeking deferment of the trial until August 12, when the Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear his challenge to the summons issued against him. The case, registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2022, accuses Yadav of facilitating appointments in the Indian Railways in exchange for land transfers to his family members and associates during his tenure as Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009.
On July 18, the Supreme Court had refused to stay the trial proceedings, though it granted Yadav exemption from personal appearance. In his renewed plea, Yadav argued that the trial should be deferred pending the outcome of his high court petition, which contests the maintainability of the CBI’s FIR. He claims the FIR lacks prior sanction from the Central Government as mandated under the Prevention of Corruption Act, which protects public servants from prosecution for official acts.
The Delhi High Court had earlier issued notice to the CBI on May 29 and fixed the next hearing for August 12 but did not stay the trial. Yadav had then requested either advancement of the hearing date or deferment of the trial.
On Wednesday, his counsel Advocate Mudit Gupta urged the Supreme Court to adjourn the matter, citing the unavailability of senior advocate Kapil Sibal. However, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the CBI, opposed the request and accused Yadav of misusing legal processes to delay the trial. “Heavy cost should be imposed on filing of such a petition,” Raju submitted.
The Supreme Court bench, however, declined to interfere and rejected Yadav’s plea for deferment.
The trial court proceedings will now continue as scheduled, with the framing of charges expected soon.
