Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi pleaded innocence in the Railway Land-for-Jobs case in Rouse Avenue Court. Also said about facing trial. Both are prominent leaders of Rashtriya Janata Dal. Appearing in the special CBI court, Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi denied the allegations of corruption, fraud and criminal conspiracy and said that they will fight the case on merit. Earlier on January 29, the special CBI court had allowed Lalu Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav to appear between February 1 and February 25, so that the formal process of framing charges could be completed.
Trial will start from March 9 in Rouse Avenue Court
The court has fixed March 9 as the date for starting the trial. In January, Special Judge Vishal Gogane, while framing charges against Lalu Yadav and his family, had said that prima facie they appear to be part of a criminal conspiracy.
Out of all the accused, charges have been framed against 46 including Lalu family.
During the hearing in Rouse Avenue Court, it was said that the charge sheet of CBI indicates that the alleged game of taking land in exchange for giving job in Railways was going on at many places. The court rejected the demand for discharge of the accused and called it baseless. Out of total 98 accused in the case, charges have been framed against 46, while 52 have got relief. Due to the death of five accused, the proceedings against them have ended.
Mischief was done in the name of providing job in Railways
This matter is from 2004 to 2009. When Lalu Yadav was Railway Minister. The investigating agency CBI alleges that in exchange for getting a job in the Railways, the land of the family and the company associated with them was registered at less than the market price. ED is investigating the money laundering angle related to land transfer in Patna. Now everyone’s eyes are on the trial starting from March 9.