Land-for-job scam case: Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, daughter granted bail

New Delhi: A Delhi court has granted bail to RJD national president and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and their daughter Misa Bharti on a personal bond of Rs 50, 000 and one surety of like amount each.

They reached Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court around 10 am to appear in the case related to the alleged land-for-job scam. However, the proceedings were delayed.

Yadav, 74, who underwent a kidney transplant recently, was in a wheel chair. The family appeared before Special Judge Geetanjali Goel around 11 a.m.

The court had on February 27 issued a summons to them in the case which concerns alleged appointments made in the Railways in exchange for land parcels given or sold to Lalu Prasad's family while he served as the Union Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009.

In its charge sheet, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that irregular appointments had been made in the Railways, in violation of the standards and guidelines established by the Indian Railways for hiring.

It is alleged that the candidates gave Lalu Prasad's family members land at extremely reduced prices -- up to one-fifth of the going market rates -- directly or through their close relatives and family members.

The CBI had filed the charge sheet in the case on October 10, 2022, against 16 persons including Lalu Prasad's wife Rabri Devi and daughter and sanctions were then obtained to prosecute them.

Special Judge Geetanjali Goel of Rouse Avenue Courts had on February 27 observed that prima facie, the on-record report shows that offences have been committed under different sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Taking cognisance of the said offenses, the judge then summoned the accused persons and directed them to appear before the court on March 15.