New Delhi, Jan 9 (NationPress) A Delhi court has formally pressed charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), along with his family members in connection with the alleged land-for-jobs corruption scandal linked to the Indian Railways under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Leaders from the ruling BJP and JD(U) have publicly accused the RJD leadership of being heavily entrenched in corruption.

In response to the court's ruling, Uttar Pradesh Minister Narendra Kashyap emphasized the need to respect the judicial process. He stated, “The law follows a procedure in which charges are framed. It is the responsibility of the court to do its duty. The court will function independently, and the law will take its own course.”

BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna adopted a more critical stance, asserting that the charges stemmed from past misdeeds. He remarked, “As you sow, so shall you reap. They have cultivated the seeds of corruption, and now they must face the legal repercussions. After reviewing the evidence, the court has deemed it necessary to frame charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav and his entire family. The Yadav family is undeniably embroiled in corruption.”

BJP MLA Sanjay Gupta reiterated similar views, indicating that such developments were anticipated. “It is widely recognized that the Lalu family has a longstanding association with corruption. Legal battles from the ‘jungle raj’ era have previously been pursued in courts, and Lalu Prasad Yadav himself faced legal challenges. Today’s outcome was predictable. The court has affirmed that wrongdoing is still wrongdoing, and charges have been substantiated,” he noted.

With a more restrained response, Bihar Minister Ashok Chaudhary stated that the matter lies strictly within the judicial framework. “It is a legal process where courts make decisions. If individuals believe a ruling is unfavorable, they can appeal to a higher court. This is how our judicial system operates. Our involvement is limited; it’s a matter for the lawyers, the judge, and the client,” he explained.

Congress MP Imran Masood added that the framing of charges should not be misconstrued as the conclusion of the case. “An accusation does not equate to the end of the case. It simply indicates that charges have been laid. The legal proceedings will continue, and evidence will be scrutinized as per legal protocols. Currently, the matter remains in its initial stages,” he stated.

Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne from the Rouse Avenue Courts issued the order, determining that a prima facie case of corruption, cheating, and criminal conspiracy exists against Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, along with multiple other accused individuals.

The court has set the stage for the trial, pressing charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav under Sections 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, in addition to offenses under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). His family members are similarly charged with cheating and criminal conspiracy under the IPC.

In delivering the order, the Special Judge remarked that Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family were “functioning as a criminal enterprise” and were part of a wider conspiracy, wherein public employment opportunities within the Indian Railways were allegedly manipulated to acquire immovable assets.