In a recent development at the Rouse Avenue court, accused individuals, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, and Tejaswi Yadav, have sought a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding the supply of documents related to the charge sheet in the Land for Job Scam case. The Special Judge, Vishal Gogne, has instructed the CBI to reply to the pleas of eight accused individuals who are seeking the supply of deficient documents. The next hearing is scheduled for January 6, 2024.
Accused Seek Documents; Deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav Requests Travel Permission
The accused, including Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members, are facing charges in the Land for Job Scam. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav has additionally applied for permission to travel to Australia in January and sought the renewal of his passport. Tejaswi’s counsel mentioned the planned travel on January 6, and the court is set to hear the application on December 22. The case is currently at the stage of scrutinizing documents after the filing of the charge sheet.
Background of the Land for Job Scam Case
The Land for Job Scam case, as per the CBI, involves the filing of a second charge sheet against 17 accused, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife, son, and other officials. The CBI alleges that during 2004-2009, the former Union Minister of Railways obtained pecuniary advantages through the transfer of land in the name of his family members in exchange for appointments of substitutes in Group “D” posts across different Railways zones. The substitutes, mainly residents of Patna, were appointed without public notices, and their lands were allegedly sold or gifted to the family members of the Minister and a private company associated with them.
CBI’s Allegations and Investigation
The CBI contends that the accused, including the then Union Minister, entered into a conspiracy to acquire land by offering railway employment. They collected applications and documents from candidates, processed them through West Central Railway for job approval, and engaged candidates initially as substitutes before regularization. The investigation also revealed the purchase of land parcels by a private company at a nominal cost, which were later transferred to the ownership of the Minister’s wife and son. The company allegedly owned land parcels worth approximately Rs.1.77 crore but was transferred for only Rs.1 Lakh.
Ongoing Investigation and Previous Chargesheet
While a chargesheet was previously filed against 16 accused on October 7, 2022, the CBI informed the court that the investigation is still ongoing. The authorities had conducted searches in various locations, including Delhi and Bihar. The accused are accused of manipulating the recruitment process and orchestrating a complex scheme to acquire valuable land through the guise of providing jobs in Railways. The court had granted bail to the accused on October 4, 2022, in relation to the fresh chargesheet in the Land for Job Scam case.
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