Land-for-jobs case: Supreme Court refuses to defer Lalu Prasad's trial

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea filed by RJD president Lalu Prasad seeking deferment of trial court proceedings in the land-for-jobs case against him. Lalu moved the SC seeking directions to the trial court to adjourn proceedings till the Delhi High Court concludes hearing his petition to quash the case.

Refusing to put brakes on the proceedings in the lower court, a division bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh clarified that the trial court's framing of charges in the case would not render Lalu's quashing petition in the HC infructuous. "We are not passing any order. Taking note of the apprehension, we say framing of charges will not make the pending petition before the HC infructuous," the bench said.

Lalu had moved an application in the top court seeking deferment of trial court proceedings in the land-for-jobs case at least till after August 12, when the Delhi HC is slated to hear his plea seeking quashing of the case.


Earlier this month, the apex court had refused to entertain a plea filed by Lalu to stay trial court proceedings in the land-for-jobs case in which he, his kin and other accused stand chargesheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over corruption and conspiracy.

Lalu had moved the SC challenging a May 29 order of the Delhi High Court refusing to stay the trial court proceedings. Refusing to put brakes on the trial, a division bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh on July 18 had said it would ask the Delhi HC to decide Lalu's plea that seeks quashing of the CBI case. The apex court then asked the high court to decide Lalu's plea expeditiously.

ET had reported earlier this month that Lalu had moved an application in the trial court seeking to summon old records of the land-for-jobs case investigated by the CBI. The CBI has already concluded its arguments on framing of charges against Lalu, his kin and other co-accused.