RJD Chief Lalu Yadav, Sons Granted Bail By Delhi Court In Land-For-Job Case

A Delhi court on Monday granted bail to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former Bihar chief minister, Lalu Prasad, along with his sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, in connection with a land-for-jobs case.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court provided relief to the RJD figures on a personal bond of ₹1 lakh each, noting that they had not been arrested during the investigation.

The case is scheduled for its next hearing on 25 October.

Lalu Prasad, Tejashwi Yadav, and Tej Pratap Yadav appeared in court following summons issued earlier by the court. The judge had summoned the individuals after considering a supplementary charge sheet that had been filed against them.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) submitted the final report to the court on 6 August, based on an FIR filed by the CBI.

Tejashwi Yadav criticised the case, stating, "They keep indulging in political conspiracy. They misuse agencies. There is nothing concrete in this case. Our victory is certain..."

Tej Pratap Yadav became the sixth member of Lalu Prasad's family implicated in the case. Other family members involved include former Bihar CM Rabri Devi, former deputy CM and opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav, and Lalu's daughters, Lok Sabha MP Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav.

Others charged and summoned include Akhileshwar Singh and his wife, Kiran Devi. The court clarified that while Singh was accused by the ED, his wife Kiran was not initially charged.

Rabri Devi, Misa, Hema Yadav, and Hridayananda Chaudhary were granted regular bail in the ED case on 7 March this year, while Tejashwi Yadav was granted bail on 4 October 2023.

The ED filed a supplementary charge sheet on 6 August, listing 11 accused, including Lallan Chaudhary, Hazari Rai, Dharmender Kumar, Akhileshwar Singh, Ravinder Kumar, Lal Babu Rai, Sonmatia Devi, Kishun Dev Rai, and Sanjay Rai.

The land-for-jobs case pertains to Group-D appointments made in the West Central Zone of the railways based in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, during Lalu Prasad's tenure as railway minister from 2004 to 2009. In return for these appointments, recruits allegedly gifted or transferred land parcels to Lalu Prasad's family or associates, according to the ED.