A Delhi court on Monday framed charges of corruption and criminal conspiracy against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife, former Bihar CM Rabri Devi, in connection with the alleged land-for-jobs scam.
The charges were framed by Special Judge Vishal Gogne at the Rouse Avenue Court after both Yadav and Rabri Devi appeared before the court in person. Listed as accused numbers one and two respectively, the two leaders pleaded not guilty and sought trial.
The court also framed charges against another accused, Ranjit Kumar, who was present during the proceedings. The matter has now been posted for February 27, when charges against the remaining accused will be formally framed.
Earlier, on January 29, the court had granted exemption from personal appearance to Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, their sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap Yadav, and several other accused for the purpose of framing charges.
According to the court’s observations, the Central Bureau of Investigation’s chargesheet outlines a larger conspiracy in which public sector jobs were allegedly used as leverage to secure land transfers in the names of Yadav’s family members and associates. While 52 accused individuals were discharged in the case, charges have been framed against 41 others.
The case was registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation on May 18, 2022. Investigators allege that during his tenure as Union railway minister between 2004 and 2009, Yadav facilitated Group D appointments in various railway zones in exchange for land parcels transferred to his family members and close associates. The agency filed its first chargesheet in 2023.
Based on the CBI’s findings, the Enforcement Directorate later initiated a money laundering probe and filed a chargesheet in 2024, accusing Yadav and his family of amassing illegal wealth through the alleged scheme.
In a related development, a Delhi court in October 2025 framed corruption and conspiracy charges against Yadav and his family in connection with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation hotel tender case. The court had then observed that the tender process for two IRCTC hotels was allegedly influenced during Yadav’s tenure as railway minister. Yadav, Rabri Devi and their son Tejashwi had denied the allegations and opted to contest the charges in court.
