Land for job scam case: Enforcement Directorate files first chargesheet against RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), on Tuesday, filed its supplementary charge sheet against former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Bihar deputy chief minister, Tejaswi Yadav and other accused in the land for job scam case in the Rouse Avenue Court.

The chargesheet has been filed before Special Judge Vishal Gogne, who has listed the matter for August 13, for checking it. According to the chargesheet, 11 have been accused. It also has 96 relied-upon documents.

Apart from Lalu Yadav, and Tejashwi Yadav, the chargesheet also mentions the names Lallan Chaudhary, Hazari Rai, Dharmender Kumar, Akhileshwar Singh, Ravinder Kumar, Late Lal Babu Rai, Sonmatia Devi, Late Kishun Dev Rai and Sanjay Rai.

Former Bihar chief minister, and Lalu Prasad Yadav's wife, Rabri Devi, had already been charged by the ED in the land for job scam case. Misa Bharti and Hema, along with other accused, were also charged.

On July 6, 2024, the Rouse Avenue court had granted time and directed the Enforcement Directorate to file an additional or concluding charge sheet by the next date of hearing.

Land for job scam case

The ED's case against the accused members stems from an FIR lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The case dates back to 2004 to 2009, when recruitments were made in Group-D services the in West Central Zone of the railways. The appointments mostly happened in the regions of Jabalpur, and Madhya Pradesh, when Lalu Prasad served as the railway minister in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), reported the PTI.

The candidates were appointed within three days of applying in "undue haste" by the railway officials. They were later also regularized, when the "individuals themselves or their family members transferred their land".

The ED alleged that the appointments had been made in return for land parcels gifted or transferred by the recruits, in the name of Lalu Prasad Yadav's family, or associates of the Rashtriya Janata Dal party.