Former India railway minister charged in land-for-jobs corruption case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday filed its final charge sheet against former Indian Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav concerning a land-for-jobs scam. The scam, which revolves around the alleged exchange of railway jobs for land parcels, implicates 78 individuals, including Yadav’s wife, Rabri Devi, and son, Tej Pratap Yadav.

The charge sheet alleged that Lalu Prasad Yadav conspired with railway officials and his family to appoint ineligible candidates to Group D positions, which are government posts meant for carrying out routine duties, during his tenure as union railway minister from 2004 to 2009. In return, these candidates or their families transferred land parcels to Yadav’s family at undervalued rates or as gifts. The CBI found a hard disk at Yadav’s camp office containing a list of 1,458 candidates hired during his tenure.

The CBI’s investigation uncovered that no advertisements or public notices were issued for these appointments. The candidates, primarily from constituencies linked to Yadav’s family, were hired as substitutes and were later regularized after transferring land.

In addition to Yadav, the charge sheet named 29 railway officials, 37 candidates, and six private individuals. The CBI has invoked sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) related to criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery alongside provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act in this case.

The CBI’s evidence includes land deeds and a list of candidates collected from raids on properties linked to Yadav’s family and associates. Bhola Yadav, Lalu Prasad’s former officer on special duty (OSD), was arrested last July and allegedly played a crucial role in facilitating the land transfers and job appointments.

The Yadav family and associates have vehemently denied the allegations, labeling the investigation as a political vendetta following a change in the state of Bihar’s government. The accused will be presumed innocent until their guilt is established after a fair trial under Indian law.