Land-for-job case: CBI files supplementary chargesheet; court to decide on taking cognisance on March 14

New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday filed a supplementary chargesheet at a Delhi court in connection with the alleged land-for-job scam.  

Special Judge Vishal Gogne of Rouse Avenue Court has posted the matter for March 14, when he will be deciding whether to take cognisance of the charge sheet filed against three persons -- Ashok Kumar and Babita, and personal secretary of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Bhola Yadav.

On February 28, the same judge had granted regular bail to former Bihar chief minister and Lalu Prasad's wife Rabri Devi and her daughters -- Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav -- in a money laundering case pertaining to the alleged land-for-job scam matter being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Judge Gogne granted them and co-accused Hridyanand Chaudhary bail, saying that they were not arrested during the probe, and that there was no doubt about the accused fleeing the law.

The court had taken cognisance of the ED's first chargesheet on January 27.

Appearing for the financial probe agency, special public prosecutor (SPP) Manish Jain along with Snehal Sharda submitted that if the bail is granted, strict conditions may be imposed in view of the gravity of the allegations.

The court, however, gave them relief on furnishing of bail bond of Rs 1 lakh and surety in the like amount.

The ED had earlier said that it has attached assets worth more than Rs 6 crore belonging to Lalu Prasad's family -- his wife Rabri Devi and daughter Misa Bharti -- and linked companies as part of its money laundering investigation against them in the case.

The CBI had registered the case on May 18, 2022, against Lalu Prasad and 15 others, including his wife, two daughters and unidentified public servants and private persons.

On October 3 last year, the court had granted bail to Lalu Prasad, son and wife in the case being probed by the CBI.

On September 22, 2023, the court took cognisance of a fresh chargesheet by the CBI against Lalu Prasad and others, including his son and wife.

Since the probe agency did not oppose the bail, Additional Sessions Judge Geetanjali Goel had granted bail.

"During the period 2004-2009, Lalu Prasad (then Railway Minister) had obtained pecuniary advantages in the form of transfer of landed property in the name of his family members in lieu of appointment of substitutes in Group 'D' posts in different Zones of Railways," a CBI official had earlier said.

A number of residents of Patna themselves or through their family members sold and gifted their land in favour of the family members of Lalu Prasad and a private company controlled by him and his family.

"No advertisement or any public notice was issued for such appointment of substitutes in Zonal Railways, yet the appointees, who were residents of Patna, were appointed as substitutes in different Zonal Railways located in Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur and Hajipur.

"In continuation of this modus operandi, about 1,05,292 sq. ft. land and immovable properties located in Patna were acquired by Lalu Prasad and his family members through five sales deeds and two gift deeds, showing the payment made to the seller in cash in most of the land transfer," the CBI had said.

--IANS

spr/pgh