New Delhi, June 5: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told a Delhi court on Monday that during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister, the ministry exerted undue pressure to rapidly clear job applications in exchange for land sold to the former minister’s family at heavily discounted rates.
The chargesheet filed by the CBI alleges that between 2004 and 2009, candidates largely from Bihar secured Group-D railway jobs in the West Central Zone, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, after transferring land parcels to Lalu Prasad’s family or associates. The family reportedly acquired over 1 lakh square feet of land for ₹26 lakh, despite the circle rate being valued at more than ₹4.39 crore.
Special public prosecutor D.P. Singh told Special Judge Vishal Gogne that multiple applications were cleared “with speed,” bypassing the typically lengthy recruitment process. “How did it happen so quickly? We have approvers who tell us that the pressure from the Ministry was enormous. Most certificates were forged and never verified,” Singh said during proceedings.
The CBI also said there was no documented urgency or justification for appointing substitutes, yet a large number of applications were processed instantly, indicating systemic irregularities.
The case, registered on May 18, 2022, names Lalu Prasad, his wife, two daughters, and 15 others including unidentified public officials and private persons. The court will continue hearing arguments on Wednesday.
The scandal has cast a spotlight on alleged corruption and favoritism within recruitment processes during Lalu Prasad’s time at the Railway Ministry. The former minister, a prominent political figure and leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has denied wrongdoing in previous statements.
