Land-for-jobs scam: CBI seeks time to verify status of accused persons

The CBI on Monday sought time from a Delhi court to verify the status of various accused persons in the alleged land-for-jobs scam involving RJD chief Lalu Prasad, his family members and others.

Special CBI Judge Vishal Gogne is hearing the case on whether there is sufficient evidence to frame charges against the accused.

The judge had, on December 4, directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a report after verifying the status of the accused in the case. Of the 103 accused, four have died. “Some time is sought on behalf of the CBI to verify the status of various accused persons in terms of the previous order. List on December 10,” the judge said on Monday.

On November 10, the judge had deferred the order on framing charges against the accused till December 4.

The CBI had filed chargesheets against Lalu Yadav, his wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, their son and former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav and others in connection with the alleged scam.

The prosecution has alleged that appointments in the Group-D category of the Indian Railways’ West Central Zone, based in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, were made during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as the railway minister from 2004 to 2009 in return for land parcels gifted or transferred by the

recruits in the name of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo’s family members and associates.

The CBI has also claimed that the appointments were made in violation of norms and that the transactions involved benami properties, amounting to criminal misconduct and conspiracy. The accused have denied the charges and claimed that the case is politically motivated.