Land-for-Job Case: Lalu’s Son Tej Pratap and Daughter Hema Granted Bail in CBI Case

New Delhi: The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has granted bail to Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Yadav’s son, Tej Pratap Yadav, and daughter, Hema Yadav, in the CBI-related case of the Land-for-Job scam. Special Judge Vishal Gogne granted them bail on a bond of ₹50,000 each.

The court had taken cognizance of the chargesheet filed by the CBI on February 25 and had issued summons to Tej Pratap and Hema Yadav. In response, both appeared before the court today. The CBI had filed its final chargesheet in the case on June 7, 2024, naming 78 accused, including 38 candidates who allegedly secured railway jobs through the scam.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed the court that it is yet to receive prosecution approval in its case. On September 18, 2024, the court took cognizance of the ED’s first supplementary chargesheet and issued summons to Lalu Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap, and five others. In a related case, the court had granted regular bail to Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Hema Yadav, and Hridayanand Chaudhary on March 7, 2024. The Delhi High Court had earlier granted bail to accused Amit Katyal in the ED case.

The case was first registered by the CBI before the ED began its investigation. In the CBI-related case, the court had granted bail to Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu Yadav, and Rabri Devi on October 4, 2023. The CBI’s second chargesheet was taken into account on September 22, 2023, while a supplementary chargesheet was filed on July 3, 2023. The court had initially taken cognizance of the chargesheet against all accused, including Lalu, Rabri, and Misa Bharti, on February 27, 2023. The CBI had originally filed its chargesheet on October 7, 2022, against 16 accused, including Lalu, Rabri, and Misa Bharti.