Rouse Avenue Court To Deliver Verdict In Lalu Prasad Yadav Land-For-Jobs Corruption Case

The Rouse Avenue Court will pronounce its verdict on December 4 regarding the charges in the corruption case linked to the Land-for-Jobs scam.

In the previous hearing, Special Judge Vishal Gogane reserved his decision on the charge sheet after hearing detailed arguments from all sides.

During the hearing, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) stated that large-scale corruption took place in the case.

Except for a few registered sale deeds, most payments for land transactions were made in cash.

The CBI filed the charge sheet under Sections 120B, 420, 468, 467, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code. It also invoked Sections 11, 12, 13, 8, and 9 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

Court Awaits Corruption Verdict

Former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi’s lawyer argued that she lawfully purchased the land and made the payment. He asserted that buying land for money does not constitute a crime.

Her lawyer also argued that purchasing land for money is not a crime. He maintained that none of the accused received any illegal benefit and that the transactions were unrelated.

He further urged the court to direct the CBI to prove that corruption actually occurred.

The CBI countered by alleging that the accused forged signatures and created fake documents to make candidates appear qualified for employment.

Special Public Prosecutor DP Singh, representing the CBI, claimed that former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members exchanged land for jobs. He said they offered Group-D railway posts in return for those land deals.

He alleged that they offered these jobs to individuals who could not even write their names.

DP Singh stated that the candidates’ signatures, transfer certificates, and mark sheets were forged, and that the schools listed in their applications had never admitted them.

The CBI confirmed that applicants had to show proof of passing at least the eighth grade. It added that they prepared fake certificates to meet this requirement.

The agency also cast doubt on the existence of the school that issued those forged documents.

The CBI told the court that Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family purchased land parcels about 60 per cent below market value and paid mostly in cash.

The agency confirmed it had received official approval to prosecute Lalu Prasad Yadav and other public servants, stating that sufficient evidence exists to frame charges.

The CBI alleges that Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family accepted land at heavily discounted prices.

It claims they received these plots between 2004 and 2009, during Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister.

The agency further states that they offered Group-D posts in the Central Railway in exchange for the land. The agency has named 102 individuals as accused in the case.

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