Railway Land-for-job Scam: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a supplementary charge sheet on Tuesday against former railway minister Lalu Prasad, his son Tejashwi Yadav, and several others in connection with the land-for-jobs scam. The charge sheet was submitted before Special Judge Vishal Gogne, who scheduled the matter for consideration on August 13.
The ED’s case originates from an FIR lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). It involves Group-D appointments made in the West Central Zone of the railways in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, during Prasad’s tenure as railway minister from 2004 to 2009. According to the ED, these appointments were allegedly made in exchange for land parcels gifted or transferred to Prasad’s family or associates.
The charge sheet includes names such as Lallan Chaudhary, Hazari Rai, Dharmender Kumar, Akhileshwar Singh, Ravinder Kumar, the late Lal Babu Rai, Sonmatia Devi, the late Kishun Dev Rai, and Sanjay Rai.
The court has listed August 13 for checking the charge sheet and documents. On July 6, the Rouse Avenue court had granted time and directed the ED to file an additional or concluding charge sheet by the next hearing date. The Joint Director of Enforcement appeared in court, updating the judge on the investigation’s status and the steps taken by the agency.
Former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, along with her daughters Misa Bharti and Hema, and other accused, had already been charged by the ED in this case. ED’s SPP Manish Jain, along with Ishan Baisla and Snehal Sharda, submitted the supplementary charge sheet and supporting documents.
Earlier, the court had directed the ED to expedite the investigation and finalize the pending probe in the Land for Jobs money laundering case within two weeks. The charge sheet also lists Bihar’s former CM Rabri Devi, her daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, and others, with all accused except Amit Katyal appearing via video conferencing.
On February 28, the court granted regular bail to Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Hema Yadav, and Hridyanand Chaudhary. The investigation continues as the ED works towards concluding the case.