CBI Accuses Lalu Yadav of Exploiting Aspirants in Jobs Scam
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has accused former Union Railway Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav of exploiting poor and vulnerable aspirants by offering them railway jobs in exchange for land. The allegations were made during arguments on framing charges in the land-for-jobs scam case at a special court in Delhi.
The alleged offences took place between 2004 and 2009, during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister. The CBI claims that people from underprivileged backgrounds, mostly in Bihar, were induced to part with land parcels either as gifts or sold at throwaway prices, in return for appointments in the Railways. The agency further stated that the entire process was orchestrated without any formal job advertisements, bypassing due recruitment norms.
Charge Sheets and Cash Trail Evidence
According to the CBI, a clear cash trail exists linking the beneficiaries of these railway jobs to the land parcels transferred to members of the Yadav family. The prosecution told the court that over 80 individuals have been named in the case, including family members of Lalu Yadav—his wife Rabri Devi, sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap Yadav, daughter Hema Yadav—and several former railway officials.
The court was also informed that substitute appointments, which are typically made in cases of sudden vacancy, were misused on a large scale, with no plausible justification for the scale and speed of such appointments.
Three charge sheets have been filed in connection with the case so far. The first was submitted in October 2022, summoning 16 accused. A second in March 2024 named another 17 individuals including Tej Pratap Yadav. The third and final charge sheet was filed in June 2024.
Court Observations and Bail
The court has taken cognizance of all three charge sheets and summoned Lalu Prasad, his family members, and 78 others including 30 government officials. All the accused have been granted bail on a surety bond of ₹50,000 each.
In its preliminary observation, the court noted that land was indeed transferred to the Yadav family and that prima facie evidence existed showing recruitment rules were flouted. The trial is expected to proceed with further arguments scheduled in the coming days.
