Land-for-job scam: Lalu, Rabri get bail

New Delhi:  A Delhi court on Wednesday gave bail to RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, their daughter Misa Bharti and others in connection with a case related to the alleged land-for-job scam.

Lalu Prasad, 74, who underwent a kidney transplant recently and was in a wheelchair, reached the Rouse Avenue court around 10 am but proceedings were delayed. The family appeared before Special Judge Geetanjali Goel around 11 am.

Granting relief to the accused on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and one surety of the like amount each, the court posted the matter for further proceedings on March 29. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) did not oppose the bail pleas. The case relates to alleged appointments made in the railways in return for land parcels gifted or sold to Lalu Prasad's family when he was railway minister between 2004 and 2009.

The CBI, in its charge sheet, alleged that irregular appointments were made in the railways, violating laid down norms and procedures of Indian Railways for recruitment. As a quid pro quo, it alleged, the candidates directly or through their immediate relatives and family members sold land to Lalu Prasad's family members at highly discounted rates up to one-fifth of the prevailing market rates. On February 27, special judge Goel issued summons to the accused persons, including Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi and Misa Bharti, and directed them to appear before the court on March 15.

"A perusal of the charge sheet and the documents and material on record prima facie shows commission of offences under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy), read with sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc.), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using forged document as genuine) of the IPC and various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Accordingly, cognizance is taken of the said offences," the judge had said.