New Delhi, June 3, 2025:
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told a Delhi court on Monday that the Ministry of Railways exerted unusual pressure to clear appointments for candidates who allegedly gave land to former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family in exchange for jobs. The case, popularly known as the “land-for-jobs” scam, involves allegations from the period between 2004 and 2009, when Lalu Yadav was serving as the Union Railway Minister.
Background of the Case
According to the CBI, poor individuals from Bihar were appointed to Group-D substitute jobs in the Central Railway after transferring plots of land at extremely low prices to Lalu Prasad or his relatives. In total, over 1 lakh square feet of land was allegedly acquired for only ₹26 lakh — a fraction of the land’s actual value, which was estimated to be over ₹4.39 crore.
What the CBI Told the Court
Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) D.P. Singh, appearing for the CBI, argued before Special Judge Vishal Gogne at Rouse Avenue Court that the job appointments were processed unusually fast, and many official procedures were bypassed.
“These were poor people who had land that could benefit Lalu’s family. In return, they got government jobs,” Singh said. He highlighted how, on the same day, multiple applications were cleared rapidly — a highly uncommon practice in government appointments. The process is typically slow and requires several layers of verification.
The CBI also mentioned that some of the documents submitted by candidates — including caste and residential certificates — appeared to have been issued in sequence, suggesting they were created together for a common purpose.
Jobs Without Advertisements
One of the major concerns raised by the CBI was that these appointments were made without public advertisements or any declared emergency. “These were substitute positions, which are only filled under very rare and specific conditions — like when regular employees are on long leave,” Singh explained.
However, the case showed that many people were hired all at once, without explanation, and mostly from Bihar — raising suspicions about favoritism and misuse of ministerial influence.
CBI’s Accusations Against Lalu Yadav
The CBI claimed that Lalu Prasad misused his power as Railway Minister to appoint individuals or their relatives who gave him land, either directly or through intermediaries. The CBI has filed a chargesheet naming 102 accused persons.
According to the agency, land parcels in Patna were transferred either in Lalu’s name or in the names of his family members. In most cases, the land was sold at 1/4th or 1/5th of the market price — with no proper sale deeds or fair valuation.
Court Proceedings and Political Impact
The hearing is currently at the stage where the court is examining arguments on whether formal charges should be framed against the accused. If the charges are framed, it will move to trial.
Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), led by Lalu Prasad’s family, has claimed that the timing of the case is politically motivated — especially with elections nearing in Bihar. The party says this is an attempt to damage Lalu’s reputation and distract voters.
However, the CBI insists that it has ample documentary and witness evidence to support the allegations. Some individuals involved in the land transfers have reportedly turned approvers, giving statements confirming the deal-making between land sales and job appointments.
What’s Next
The court will continue to hear arguments from both sides in the coming days. If charges are formally accepted, Lalu Prasad and several others may face trial under various corruption and criminal conspiracy laws.
This case is one of several corruption-related cases that have dogged Lalu Prasad over the years, including the well-known fodder scam for which he has already served prison time.
