New Delhi, Jan 29 (NationPress) The daughters of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav – Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav – asserted their innocence on Thursday regarding the alleged corruption case involving land-for-jobs in the Railways, which is currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Appearing before the Special CBI Court at Rouse Avenue, both women entered a plea of not guilty to the accusations and expressed their readiness to undergo trial.

Simultaneously, Lalu Prasad Yadav, along with his spouse Rabri Devi and their son Tejashwi Yadav, attended the trial court via video link, requesting exemption from personal appearance for that day.

The court granted their requests, with Lalu and Rabri citing their age as a reason, while Tejashwi requested the exemption for medical reasons.

Nevertheless, the Special CBI Court instructed Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, and Tej Pratap Yadav to appear in person between February 1 and February 25, with prior notice to be given at least one day ahead.

The trial in the land-for-job case is scheduled to start on March 9 at Rouse Avenue Courts.

Earlier this month, Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court officially framed charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members, indicating that there was sufficient evidence for a prima facie case of corruption, cheating, and criminal conspiracy against them.

In his ruling, the Special Judge remarked that Lalu Prasad Yadav and his relatives were “functioning as a criminal enterprise” and part of a larger conspiracy, wherein public employment within Indian Railways was allegedly leveraged to secure immovable assets.

The court verified that the chargesheet from the Central agency indicates that close associates of Lalu Prasad Yadav facilitated the procurement of land in exchange for Railways jobs across various regions.

Rejecting the discharge plea, the court stated that “the request from Mr. Lalu Yadav and his family members to be discharged is entirely unwarranted.”

As per the court's directive, of the 98 remaining accused, charges have been set against 46 individuals, including Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family, while 52 have been discharged.

It is noteworthy that proceedings against five accused have ceased due to their passing.

The case involves allegations of “extensive corruption” occurring between 2004 and 2009, during which Lalu Prasad served as the Union Railway Minister. The CBI claims that parcels of land were acquired under the names of Lalu's family members and a related company, often below market value and primarily through cash transactions.

In exchange, railway jobs were allegedly distributed across different zones. Concurrently, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating a purported money laundering trail linked to land transfers in Patna.