Land-for-Jobs Scam: Bihar man 'gifted' land to Tejashwi, Tej Pratap in 2005 to get son a job, CBI tells Court

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged that a Bihar resident in 2005 "gifted" his two land parcels in favour of Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav when the duo were minors. Reason: To secure a job for his son in the Railways Department in lieu of the lands.

This has been alleged by the CBI in its charge sheet filed against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, their children and co-accused for their alleged involvement in the land-for-jobs scandal.

The chargesheet, reviewed by ET, says that the father transferred two land parcels vide gift deeds dated June 14, 2005 for ₹5,700 in favour of Tejashwi Yadav, former deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and his elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav under the guardianship of their mother Rabri Devi. The two brothers were minors back then. The CBI has alleged that the stamp duty was paid at less than the circle rate and market rate. The charge sheet alleges the kith and kin of those who received jobs in the Railways in lieu of their lands "gave away" their lands to Lalu Prasad's family at a circle rate which was "four to six times" less than the prevailing market rate.


The agency has alleged that almost all the accused who gave their lands to Lalu's family claimed to have received the payment in "cash".

The chargesheet claims that Bhola Yadav, a close aide of Lalu when he was the Union railways minister used to visit the village to tell people that they must transfer their lands to Lalu to secure jobs for their kin in the railways.

The agency, in its chargesheet, has cited a few instances where the accused have claimed to "sell" their land to Lalu's family, especially his wife Rabri Devi (former Bihar chief minister) at circle rate of ₹3.75 lakh. According to CBI, the prevailing circle rate (in 2008) was ₹4.21 lakh. The CBI has claimed that the market rate was "four to six times" of the circle rate. The agency alleged that "no consideration was paid" in almost all cases.

Lalu, Rabri, their two sons Tejashwi, Tej Pratap Yadav, daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav stand charge sheeted by the CBI among other accused in the alleged scandal.

As reported by ET last month, the CBI concluded its arguments on framing of charges against Lalu Prasad, his kin and other co-accused.

Arguing in support of its demand for framing of charges against Lalu, the agency has described him as the "kingpin" of the alleged scandal.

ET reported that the CBI has relied on the statements of two approvers who have disclosed that they were allegedly pressurised by Lalu to give jobs to select applicants whose names were finalised by Lalu's office. The agency also relied on statements of several prosecution witnesses who in their individual testimonies have told the agency that the list of applicants selected for jobs was handed over by the then private secretary of Lalu during the conference of general managers of the railways department.

As regards Rabri Devi, daughter Misa Bharti and sons Tejashwi and Tej, the CBI argued that they were "beneficiaries" of the land parcels.