The order was passed by Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court, which described the alleged acts as a “wide-ranging conspiracy” in which government jobs were allegedly used as bargaining tools to acquire immovable properties for the benefit of Lalu Yadav’s family. The case is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In a strongly worded observation, the court stated that the former railway minister and his family “acted like a criminal gang” by systematically abusing official position during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as Union Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009. The court held that the material on record prima facie establishes offences under Sections 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Lalu Yadav’s elder daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Misa Bharti, along with sons Tejashwi Yadav, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, and Tej Pratap Yadav, appeared before the court during the hearing. Former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and other family members are also among the accused.
According to the CBI, individuals from Bihar were allegedly appointed to Group-D posts in various railway zones, including Mumbai, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Kolkata, and Hajipur. In return, land parcels were allegedly transferred to Lalu Yadav’s family members or to AK Infosystems Private Limited, a company later taken over by the family.
Investigators claim that in most cases, land transfers were executed through gift deeds at nominal prices and completed even before the jobs were formally granted. The agency further alleged that Lalu Yadav’s aide Bhola Yadav acted as an intermediary, facilitating communication between job seekers and the former minister’s family.
During earlier proceedings, the CBI informed the court that five of the 103 accused named in the chargesheet had died. With charges now framed, the trial will proceed, during which evidence and arguments will be examined in detail. Lalu Prasad Yadav retains the option to challenge the order in a higher court.
