Land-for-Jobs Scam: Lalu Prasad Yadav Suffers Setback as Delhi High Court Dismisses Plea to Quash FIR
New Delhi: In a significant development, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, seeking quashing of the FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the alleged land-for-jobs scam case.
The court termed the plea as “devoid of merit” and rejected the request to set aside the FIR, dealing a major blow to the veteran leader. With this ruling, no immediate relief has been granted to Yadav, and the investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation will continue.
Case Background
The case pertains to allegations that during his tenure as Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009, Yadav facilitated appointments in the Indian Railways in exchange for land parcels. The appointments were allegedly made in Group D posts in the West Central Zone based in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
According to the Central Bureau of Investigation, land parcels were transferred in the names of Yadav’s family members and associates in return for jobs. The FIR, registered on May 18, 2022, names Yadav, his wife, two daughters, unknown public servants, and private individuals.
Arguments in Court
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Yadav, argued that the alleged acts were carried out during his official tenure as a minister and therefore fell within the scope of official duties. He contended that prior sanction was mandatory before initiating any investigation in such matters.
Opposing the plea, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, representing the Central Bureau of Investigation, argued that no such sanction was required. He maintained that recruitment decisions were taken by general managers and not directly by the minister, and thus protection under Section 17A would not apply.
Court’s Stand and Next Steps
The High Court had earlier heard detailed arguments from both sides and allowed submission of written arguments before reserving its order. With the dismissal of the plea, the court has cleared the way for the probe to proceed without legal hindrance.
Yadav had also raised the issue of delay, pointing out that the FIR was registered nearly 14 years after the alleged incidents and that earlier inquiries had been closed with reports submitted before a competent court. He argued that reopening the case without disclosing earlier closure reports amounted to abuse of legal process.
However, the court did not find merit in these arguments, effectively allowing the investigation to move forward. The case is likely to remain a key legal and political development in the coming months.
