The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sought time to file a reply on the applications of Lalu Prasad Yadav and others seeking a supply of documents in the alleged land-for-jobs case. Counsel for CBI submitted that the previous IO has been transferred; therefore, they need time.
After hearing the submission, CBI Special Judge Vivek Gogne listed the matter on January 15 and directed both IOs to appear before the Court.
The Court also said that because of the direction passed by the Delhi High Court, this case is to be expedited. No further adjournment will be given.
On December 20, 2023, the Rouse Avenue court sought a reply from CBI on an application moved by accused persons, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi and Tejaswi Yadav, seeking a supply of documents filed along with the charge sheet.
Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi and Tejaswi Yadav are arrayed as accused in land for the Job Scam. This case is at the stage of scrutiny of documents after the filing of the charge sheet.
On October 4, the Court granted bail to former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Rabri Devi and others in relation to a fresh chargesheet in an alleged land for job scam case.
According to the CBI, this is the second chargesheet in the Designated Court against 17 accused, including the then Union Minister of Railways, his wife, son, then GM of West Central Railways(WCR), then two CPOs of WCR, private persons, private company etc. in a case related to land for job scam case.
The CBI filed a chargesheet in an alleged land-for-job scam case case against former Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav including Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav and others.
CBI had registered a case on May 18, 2022 against the then Union Minister of Railways and others including his wife, two daughters and unknown Public servants and Private persons.
It was alleged that the then Union Minister of Railways during the period 2004-2009 had obtained pecuniary advantages in the form of transfer of landed property in the name of his family members etc., in lieu of appointment of Substitutes in Group “D” Post in different Zones of Railways.
It was further alleged that in lieu thereof, the substitutes, who were residents of Patna themselves or through their family members, sold & gifted their land situated at Patna in favour of the family members of said Minister and a private company controlled by his family members, which was also involved in the transfer of such immovable properties in the name of said family members.
It was also alleged that no advertisement or any public notice was issued for such appointments of substitutes in Zonal Railways, yet the appointees who were residents of Patna were appointed as Substitutes in different Zonal Railways located at Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur and Hazipur. Searches were earlier conducted at multiple places, including in Delhi & Bihar etc, said CBI.
During the investigation, it was found that the then Union Minister of Railways, with intent to acquire the land parcels situated at the places where his family was already owning land parcels or the places that were already connected to him, entered into conspiracy with associates & family members and allegedly derived a design to grab the land of various land owners by offering/providing group D employment in Railways, CBI said.
The accused had allegedly collected applications and documents of such candidates through associates and then sent those to West Central Railway for processing and providing jobs in Railways, and the General Managers of West Central Railways, under the influence /control of the accused, accorded approval for the engagement of candidates.
For providing jobs in Railways, they allegedly devised an indirect way wherein the candidates were engaged firstly as Substitutes and subsequently, were regularized. A hard disk containing lists of candidates (who were engaged) was also recovered during searches.
It was further alleged that a land parcel was purchased in the name of a private company at Rs 10.83 Lakh in 2007 and subsequently, the said land along with some other land parcels purchased by the said company, were brought into the ownership/control of his wife & son of then Union Minister of Railways by way of transfer of shares at Rs 1 lakh only.
At the time of transfer, the company allegedly owned land parcels purchased at a total cost of Rs1.77 crore(approx) and it was transferred for a mere Rs.1 Lakh(approx) only, however, the market value of the lands was much more.
Earlier, a chargesheet was filed on October 7, 2022 against 16 accused. The investigation is continuing, CBI informed the Court.
(with inputs from ANI)
