A Delhi court has formally charged Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, and son Tejashwi Yadav in the ‘land-for-jobs’ case, labeling their actions as part of a “criminal syndicate.” The case, investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), alleges that jobs were traded for land parcels during Lalu’s tenure as Railway Minister. This alleged offense occurred between 2004 and 2009, while Lalu Prasad served as Union Railway Minister in the first UPA government led by Manmohan Singh.
The CBI investigation revealed a modus operandi where individuals seeking Railway jobs purportedly transferred land at low prices to Lalu’s family and associates. Lalu and Rabri, both former Bihar Chief Ministers, have faced intermittent rule over a decade. Rabri Devi, a homemaker turned politician, became Bihar’s first female Chief Minister in 1997 after Lalu’s resignation due to corruption charges related to the “fodder scam.”
In the current case, the CBI has filed charges against the three RJD leaders, alleging that Lalu misused the Railway Ministry for personal gain, running a criminal enterprise. The court found evidence of an overarching conspiracy involving Lalu and his family, with charges of corruption, cheating, and criminal conspiracy under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC provisions.
During Lalu’s tenure as Union Railway Minister, between 2004 and 2009, he and his family allegedly received land parcels at nominal prices in exchange for jobs in the Railway department. These exchanges later became known as the ‘land-for-jobs scam.’ The CBI initiated investigations into the reported scam between 2018 and 2019, leading to a case against Lalu and others.
