Delhi High Court reserved its decision on the petition of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, in which he has demanded cancellation of the case registered by CBI in the alleged land-for-jobs scam. Lalu Yadav has argued in his petition that the CBI started the preliminary investigation against him without statutory approval, which is against the law. He said that under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, permission was necessary before any investigation.
CBI opposed Lalu Yadav’s argument
CBI strongly opposed Lalu Yadav’s argument in Delhi High Court. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the CBI, told the High Court that the allegations leveled against Lalu Yadav are not related to the discharge of his official duties, hence there was no need for prior permission under Section 17A.
He also said that the petition is also technically wrong because Lalu Yadav did not first approach the Sessions Court and went straight to the High Court. CBI also argued that the order of the lower court to take cognizance of the charge sheet in 2023 is completely valid because the court had taken the decision keeping all the facts in mind. Even if no prior approval was taken during the investigation.
Rouse Avenue Court had framed charges against Lalu Yadav and others.
Rouse Avenue Court had framed charges of corruption and criminal conspiracy against Lalu Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi and their children Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav and Misa Bharti. The court had commented that Lalu Yadav, while being the Railway Minister, used the Railway Ministry as his personal fiefdom.
CBI had filed a charge sheet while investigating the case.
According to CBI, this case pertains to the period between 2004 and 2009, when land was taken from the candidates or their family members in exchange for Group-D jobs in the Railway Ministry. That land was transferred to the name of Lalu Yadav’s family or close ones. Lalu Yadav also said that between 2009 and 2014, CBI had investigated and filed a closure report. Despite this, starting the investigation again in 2021 and filing FIR in 2022 is a misuse of the law. Now the decision of the High Court is awaited in this entire matter.
