Land-for-job scam: CBI files final charge sheet against Lalu, 77 others

The CBI filed its final charge sheet in a Delhi Court on Friday in connection with land for jobs scam allegedly involving former railway minister Lalu Prasad and his family members, the officials said.The final report submitted by the CBI in the special court covers all the railway zones where the recruitment was made in return for lands allegedly taken by members of Lalu Prasad's family, they said. The agency has also listed as accused Lalu Prasad's wife Rabri Devi, son Tej Pratap Yadav, daughter Hema Yadav, former aide Bhola Yadav and others in the charge sheet, they said. This charge sheet encompasses 78 accused persons, which includes 38 candidates along with several other individuals. Moreover, the CBI has informed the court that it is still awaiting the sanction from the competent authority.

Special CBI Judge Vishal Gogne has listed the matter on July 6 for consideration on the charge sheet. According to the CBI, the 2nd chargesheet is against 17 accused including the then Union Minister of Railways, his wife, son, then GM of West Central Railways(WCR), two CPOs of WCR, private persons, a private company etc. in a case related to Land for Job Scam.
The primary accusation from the CBI is that Lalu Prasad Yadav, during his tenure as the Union Minister of Railways from 2004 to 2009, accepted "financial advantages" by way of land property transfers in the names of his family members and others. These transfers were purportedly in exchange for appointing "substitutes" to Group "D" positions across various zones of the Indian Railways.It was further alleged that in lieu thereof the substitutes, who were residents of Patna themselves or through their family members sold and gifted their land situated at Patna in favour of the family members of said Minister and a private company controlled by his family members, which was also involved in transfer of such immovable properties in the name of said family members.