Fate of 2 corruption cases involving Lalu & family to be decided before Bihar elections

New Delhi: Ahead of Bihar assembly elections later this year, two significant developments are possible in the corruption cases allegedly involving RJD chief and former railway minister Lalu Prasad, wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav.

While a special CBI court is likely to pronounce its verdict on framing of charges against the Yadav family in the IRCTC case on July 23, CBI is set to conclude arguments on framing of charges in another graft case.

As per people in the know, in the land-for-jobs case, CBI will conclude arguments next month after which the accused will present their counterarguments. The special court will then give its order on framing of charges against the family and co-accused. CBI, led by special public prosecutor and senior advocate DP Singh assisted by Manu Mishra, has completed its arguments against 25 accused.


It might be mentioned here that of 103 accused, four have passed away. They were substitutes who had allegedly secured jobs in lieu of "gifting" their parcels of lands to Prasad when he was the railway minister.

CBI has argued that there was "no exigency" to recruit substitutes, especially given the fact that there were no regular vacancies at that time. It has alleged that Prasad and his personal assistant gave a list of selected candidates to general managers. These candidates, CBI has alleged, had gifted their lands to the family in lieu of government jobs in the railways.

Previously, CBI had argued that a school existed with the sole purpose of making forged certificates. CBI alleged that the forged certificates, marksheets and signatures were used for obtaining jobs in railways.

Last month, President Droupadi Murmu had accorded sanction to prosecute Prasad for his alleged involvement in a money laundering case being investigated by ED in the land-for-jobs case. The probe was initiated on the basis of a CBI FIR related to the land-for-jobs case, which alleged that Prasad indulged in corruption in appointment of Group D substitutes in railways during 2004- 2009.