Court Grants Permission for Tejashwi Yadav’s Official Visit to Australia and New Zealand

In a recent development, a Delhi court, headed by Special Judge Vishal Gogne at the Rouse Avenue court, has granted permission to Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav to travel abroad from January 6 to 18, 2024. Tejashwi Yadav is currently accused of an alleged land-for-job scam in the railways.

The court, in its decision, allowed Tejashwi Yadav’s plea to visit Australia and New Zealand for an official visit. Notably, the purpose of this visit is linked to the Six-lane Ganga Bridge Project, involving the construction of roads and bridges. The project is funded by the Asian Development Bank and the State Government of Bihar.

As a condition for his travel, the court has directed Tejashwi Yadav to furnish a deposit of ₹25 lakh. During his visit, he is set to lead a team comprising four senior government officials and 16 engineers from the Road Construction Department of the State of Bihar.

The court has also granted permission for the renewal of Tejashwi Yadav’s passport for one year. However, his legal counsel has requested that the passport be allowed to be renewed for a full tenure of 10 years. This plea is based on the argument that frequent international visits are a requirement for Tejashwi Yadav, and the short-term renewal of the passport causes inconvenience.

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This decision comes amidst ongoing investigations into the alleged land-for-job scam involving Tejashwi Yadav. The court’s approval for his overseas travel emphasizes the official nature of the visit and its connection to a significant infrastructure project funded by both the Asian Development Bank and the State Government of Bihar.