New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) A Delhi court has rejected petitions submitted by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, and other defendants requesting access to unrelied documents in the purported Railways land-for-jobs corruption scandal.

Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts denied three separate requests from Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, former officer R.K. Mahajan, and Maheep Kapoor under Section 91 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), stating that the demand for unrelied documents was “untenable” and inconsistent with the framework of a criminal trial.

The court asserted that unrelied documents cannot be claimed as an absolute right by the accused and are only accessible at a suitable stage of the trial, typically when the defense presents evidence.

“The provision for unrelied documents is not an unfinished aspect of Section 207 CrPC. It is, in fact, a discretionary power to be exercised by the court at the appropriate time… and with reference to the documents requested,” the court stated.

While the defendants have the right to a list of unrelied documents, the court pointed out they cannot demand all such documents at the beginning of prosecution evidence without showing necessity and relevance.

By denying the requests from Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi for all 1,675 unrelied documents, the court remarked that such a demand would hinder the trial and distort the legal process.

“The request seems intended to ensnare the trial in confusion right from the start,” the court noted, adding that permitting such requests would divert attention from relied documents to unrelied materials and could result in “endless cross-examination.”

The court also highlighted that the accused had already been given a list of unrelied documents and allowed to inspect them.

By dismissing all three applications, the court concluded that no exceptional circumstances were presented that would warrant a departure from established legal principles.

This case involves accusations that during his period as Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009, Lalu Prasad Yadav misused his official position to secure jobs within the Railways in exchange for land parcels transferred to his family members or associated entities.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), candidates or their relatives supposedly transferred land at below-market rates, often through cash transactions, as a quid pro quo for jobs in various railway zones.

Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members have refuted the allegations and have pleaded not guilty, asserting they will contest the case based on its merits.

In related developments, the Delhi High Court earlier this month issued a notice to the CBI concerning a plea from Lalu Prasad Yadav challenging the trial court’s decision to frame charges in the case.

In January, the trial court had framed charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav and several of his family members, stating that they appeared to operate as part of a “criminal enterprise” allegedly exploiting public employment to acquire property.