In a significant legal development, former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav suffered a major setback on Saturday, May 31, 2025, as the Delhi High Court dismissed his petition seeking a stay on trial court proceedings in the widely-publicized Land-for-Job scam case. The case is being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and pertains to alleged irregularities during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as the Union Railway Minister.

Delhi HC Clears Path for Charges to Be Framed

Lalu Yadav had approached the High Court with a plea to suspend the framing of charges by the trial court. However, Justice Ravinder Dudeja rejected the petition, finding no legal ground to halt the proceedings. The case will now move forward in the special CBI court, where the next hearing is scheduled for June 2, focused on debating the charges.

"1287" data-end="1631">The Land-for-Job scam allegedly occurred during the period when Lalu Prasad Yadav held the post of Railway Minister in the UPA government. It is alleged that during his tenure, several candidates were provided employment in the Indian Railways in exchange for land parcels gifted or sold at undervalued rates to members of the Yadav family.

The CBI has named several individuals in its charge sheet, including Lalu Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and daughter Misa Bharti. All of them are currently out on bail. The scandal has attracted significant media attention and political criticism, with questions being raised over transparency and favoritism in public appointments.

Sibal Argues Violation of Legal Protocol

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Lalu Yadav, argued that both the First Information Report (FIR) and the subsequent CBI investigation were flawed and lacked legal sanctity. He emphasized that since the FIR and probe were allegedly not in compliance with the law, the charge sheet derived from them could not be deemed valid.

Furthermore, Sibal invoked Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which requires prior sanction from the government before initiating an investigation against a former Union Minister. According to him, this statutory safeguard was ignored, making the entire investigation procedurally invalid and violating norms laid down by the Supreme Court.

CBI Counters with Legal Compliance

On the other hand, DP Singh, the CBI’s legal counsel, firmly contested Sibal's claims. He stated that the investigative agency had obtained all necessary permissions under Section 19 of the Anti-Corruption Act and followed due process.

Singh further argued that the CBI has collected ample evidence to move ahead with framing charges against the accused. He maintained that the probe has clearly established the involvement of Lalu Yadav and his family in unlawful activities during his tenure in the Railway Ministry.

What Happens Next?

With the Delhi High Court's refusal to stay the proceedings, the trial in the special court will now continue as per schedule. The case will be taken up on June 2, 2025, when the court will hear arguments related to the formal framing of charges.

The latest development is seen as a legal and political blow to the RJD leader, who has been grappling with multiple corruption-related cases in recent years. While Lalu Yadav has maintained that the allegations are politically motivated, the legal hurdles seem far from over for the veteran politician.