New Delhi, Dec 11 (NationPress) A Delhi court has postponed the session for determining the charges against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, his relatives, and other co-defendants implicated in the supposed land-for-job corruption scandal.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts (under the Prevention of Corruption Act) has granted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) more time to submit a verification report, with the next hearing scheduled for December 15.

The court is evaluating the potential framing of charges under various IPC Sections, including 120B, 420, 467, 468, and 471, as well as provisions from the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, after the investigation agency included multiple accused in its charge sheet.

The CBI alleges that extensive corruption took place between 2004 and 2009, during Lalu Prasad's tenure as the Union Railway Minister, claiming that parcels of land were purchased in the names of Lalu’s relatives and a connected company, often at prices significantly below market value and primarily through cash deals.

In exchange, jobs in Group ‘D’ positions across different railway zones were allegedly granted to individuals who transferred the land.

The Union Home Ministry has already authorized the CBI to proceed with prosecution against Lalu Prasad in this corruption case, while both the ED and CBI continue their separate investigations into the alleged Rs 600-crore money-laundering scheme associated with land transactions in Patna.

Recently, the Principal District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge (PC Act) issued notifications to the CBI regarding transfer requests made by former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, who sought to have the corruption case moved from Judge Gogne’s court.

Earlier this July, the Supreme Court declined to entertain Lalu Prasad Yadav’s request for a stay on the trial proceedings in the land-for-job case. He had submitted a special leave petition (SLP) contesting the Delhi High Court’s decision to dismiss his plea for halting the trial after the CBI filed multiple charge sheets under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In a related money-laundering case, a Delhi court had previously granted bail to Lalu Yadav and his sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, requiring them to submit bail bonds of Rs one lakh each. During the summoning of the accused, Special Judge Vishal Gogne noted that it had prima facie emerged that Lalu “was in a position to facilitate public employment by his position,” and that individuals had transferred land to his family at “prices lower than the prevailing market value.” The judge also observed that the involvement of Tej Pratap Yadav “cannot be ruled out.”