CBI court frames charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav and family

New Delhi: A special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday framed charges against former railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, their sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap Yadav, and others accused for their alleged involvement in the land-for-jobs case.

Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne framed charges against Lalu under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act along with other offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). His wife and sons have been charged with cheating and criminal conspiracy.

Judge Gogne held that Lalu Yadav and his family members were operating as a criminal syndicate and were involved in an overarching conspiracy and used public employment as a bargaining chip to obtain properties.


The court ruled that the CBI's chargesheet shows that Lalu Yadav's close associates facilitated the acquisition of land in lieu of jobs in the railways with placements across the country.

The court turned down Lalu Yadav's plea seeking discharge, calling it "completely unwarranted". "The court finds on the touchstone of suspicion that there existed an overarching conspiracy by Lalu Prasad Yadav towards using public employment as a bargaining chip for receiving immovable properties for his family (daughters, wife and sons)," it said.

The court said the railway ministry was used as a personal fiefdom by Lalu Yadav. It said that of the 98 surviving accused in the case, it was framing charges against 46 people (including Lalu Yadav and his family) and discharging 52 others.

Describing Lalu as "kingpin" of the alleged scandal, the CBI in its chargesheet said it had relied on statements of two approvers who have disclosed that they were allegedly pressurised by Lalu Yadav to give jobs to select applicants whose names were finalised by Yadav's office.