CBI charge sheet against Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi in land for jobs scam

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)'s Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on October 7 filed a charge sheet against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and 14 others, in connection with the land for jobs scam, officials told PTI.

Earlier this year, in August, the central agency had searched the premises of RJD leaders in connection with the scam that took place during the tenure of Lalu Prasad as Union railway minister.

The CBI search operation had come on a day when Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who had parted ways with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to ally with the RJD, was set to face a trust vote in the state assembly.

The CBI had named the RJD supremo, his wife, and daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, in addition to 12 others who were given jobs in Railway zones of Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Hajipur in 2008-09, in the case.

The central agency had registered a preliminary enquiry on September 23, 2021, related to the land-for-jobs scam in Railways.

The candidates were appointed as substitutes in group D positions within three days of applying in "undue haste" by Railway officials and were later regularised "in lieu thereof the individuals themselves or their family members transferred their land," according to the agency.

The transfers were made through three sale deeds in the name of Rabri Devi and one in the name of Misa Bharti and two gift deeds in the name of Hema Yadav.