Land-for-jobs scam: Lalu, Rabri plead ‘not guilty’, to face trial

Patna: RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his wife, former Bihar CM Rabri Devi, appeared before the Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi on Monday in connection with the alleged land-for-jobs scam and pleaded innocence.The court formally framed charges against Lalu and Rabri in the case.Special Judge Vishal Gogne said, “The charge has been framed against accused 1 (Lalu Prasad) and accused 2 (Rabri Devi), to which they have pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.”The matter has been listed on Feb 27 for further proceedings.The couple denied the allegations in the case being investigated by the CBI and told the court they were willing to face trial.The case pertains to alleged transfers of land to members of Lalu family and others in return for appointments to Group D posts in the railways.Lalu and Rabri were accompanied to court by their eldest daughter, Misa Bharti. Speaking to reporters, she said the family had faith in the judiciary. Asked whether her family was being harassed, she responded, “The answer is in your question.”According to a news agency report, while directing framing of charges, the special CBI court observed that, prima facie, there was a conspiracy “mentored by Lalu Prasad to use govt jobs as a means for getting immovable property through his family members from willing job seekers.”

The report also quoted the court as saying the chargesheet “strongly depicts the acquisition of the land in lieu of a job.”Earlier, on Jan 29, the trial court granted permission to Lalu, Rabri, their sons Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav to appear before it between Feb 1 and 25 for the formal framing of charges in the case.On Jan 9, the court had ordered framing charges against Lalu Prasad, his family members and others.It has framed charges in the case against 41 accused persons and discharged 52 others. Out of the 103 accused named in the CBI’s chargesheet, five have died.