Land-for-job scam case: Bail granted to Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi & daughter Misa Bharti

Former Bihar Chief Ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi along with their daughter Misa Bharti have been granted bail on March 15th by Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court in connection with the land-for-job scam case. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for March 29th. The three are being investigated for their alleged involvement in buying land at an extremely low price in exchange for jobs when Lalu Yadav was serving as Union Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009.

The court issued summons on February 27th after taking cognizance of the chargesheet filed by CBI against 16 accused persons, including Lalu Yadav, Rabri, and Misa. The chargesheet was filed on October 10th last year for offences of criminal conspiracy and corruption. Lalu Yadav and his family members have been accused of purchasing land at throwaway prices in exchange for jobs during his tenure as the Railway Minister.

On March 11th, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on the family in connection with the investigation into the land-for-job money laundering case. The ED claimed that the raids resulted in the seizure of unaccounted cash worth 1 crore rupees and the discovery of 600 crore rupees in criminal proceeds.

The land-for-job scam case is not the only case the family is embroiled in. Lalu Yadav and his son Tejashwi Yadav, who is also Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister, are also accused in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) scam case. The CBI has accused Lalu Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and son Tejashwi of corruption, criminal conspiracy, and other charges in the case related to irregularities in granting tenders for the maintenance of two IRCTC hotels in 2004.

The ED is also probing the money laundering aspect of the case, which is said to be linked to the land-for-job scam. The ED had earlier conducted raids on the family members in connection with the IRCTC case as well.

Lalu Yadav and his family members have maintained that the cases against them are politically motivated and are a result of their opposition to the ruling party. Lalu Yadav, who was the Chief Minister of Bihar from 1990 to 1997, has been convicted in several other corruption cases and has spent time in jail as well.

Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, and Misa Bharti have been granted bail in the land-for-job scam case, which will be heard again on March 29th. They are also facing charges in the IRCTC scam case and are being investigated for money laundering. The family members have maintained that the cases against them are politically motivated, and Lalu Yadav has a history of corruption cases and has previously been jailed.