New Delhi, Jan 9 (NationPress) – On Friday, a court in Delhi formally charged Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, and their son Tejashwi Yadav in the prominent 'land-for-jobs' scandal, labeling their conduct as part of a “criminal syndicate”.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating allegations that during Lalu's time as Railway Minister, job placements were exchanged for land parcels transferred to his family.

The alleged offenses occurred between 2004 and 2009 when Lalu Prasad served as Union Railway Minister under the first United Progressive Alliance government led by Manmohan Singh.

The CBI examined the scheme, which purportedly involved individuals seeking railway jobs transferring land at significantly reduced prices to Lalu's family members and associates.

Notably, both Lalu and Rabri have held the office of Bihar Chief Minister, with a combined rule spanning over a decade marked by intermittent breaks.

In 1997, Rabri Devi, a homemaker with no previous political experience, became Bihar's first female Chief Minister after Lalu stepped down due to corruption allegations linked to the “fodder scam”.

In this ongoing case, the CBI filed charges against these three leaders from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and others, asserting that Lalu “misused the Railway Ministry as a personal fiefdom to run a criminal enterprise”.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court remarked that Lalu and his family “functioned as a criminal syndicate” and exploited public employment as leverage.

The court identified prima facie evidence of an “overarching conspiracy” involving Lalu and his family, with allegations of corruption, cheating, and criminal conspiracy under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC provisions.

Between 2004 and 2009, while Lalu Prasad was Union Railway Minister, it is alleged that he and his family gained from land parcels transferred at nominal prices by various individuals in exchange for positions within his department.

These dealings have come to be known as the 'land-for-jobs scam'.

The central agency began investigating the alleged scam between 2018 and 2019, subsequently registering a case against Lalu and others.

The agency contended that jobs were granted without adherence to proper procedures and were directly linked to land transfers.

In 2019, the CBI executed raids at numerous locations, including properties associated with Lalu’s family, intensifying the investigation.

Three years later, the agency presented its charge sheet against Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, and other family members, detailing how land parcels were acquired by the Yadav family at minimal costs.

They were accused of corruption, cheating, and criminal conspiracy under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The following year, a Delhi court took cognizance of the charge sheet, summoning Lalu, Rabri, Tejashwi, and others to appear.

The family has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the case is politically charged.

Last year, all three family members were granted bail, with their legal representatives arguing that the case was based on flimsy evidence and political motives. However, the prosecution maintained that there was clear evidence of an exchange between jobs and land transfers.

With formal charges now laid against them, the case is prepared for trial, and the outcome will influence both the legal standing of the Yadav family and the political prospects of Tejashwi, who leads Bihar’s Opposition Mahagathbandhan bloc.