Land-for-Jobs Case: No Relief for Lalu Prasad Yadav as Supreme Court Refuses to Stay Trial

Supreme Court exempts RJD chief Lalu from personal court appearances, directs Delhi High Court to expedite hearing in plea challenging FIR.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to halt the trial in the high-profile land-for-jobs case involving former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. The bench, comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh, declined to interfere with the proceedings but granted Yadav exemption from personal appearances during the trial.

The case relates to alleged irregularities in Group D appointments in the Indian Railways during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as Union Railways Minister between 2004 and 2009, under the UPA government. According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), jobs were given in exchange for land parcels transferred to Yadav’s family members or close associates.

While disposing of Yadav’s plea, the supreme court observed that the petition challenged only an interim order from the Delhi High Court and that the main petition, which includes a request to quash the FIR, is still pending before the High Court. It therefore directed the High Court to expedite the hearing.

“We will not stay [the trial]. Let the main matter be decided,” said Justice Sundresh, adding, “Given his stature and age, we can pass an order exempting him from personal appearance in court.”

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Lalu Yadav, argued that the CBI had initiated the probe without obtaining the mandatory sanction under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. He emphasized that sanctions had been obtained for other government officials involved, but not for Yadav.

Responding to the argument, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the CBI, contended that sanction was not required in this case since the alleged offenses occurred prior to the 2018 amendment of the Act.

“This is a very shocking case,” Sibal asserted. “He [Yadav] was a minister since 2002. The investigation started in 2014. They’ve taken sanction for all other officials—except him.”

Despite hearing the arguments, the Supreme Court made it clear that it would not delve into the merits of the case at this stage.

With the trial set to continue, all eyes are now on the Delhi High Court, where Lalu Prasad Yadav’s primary plea challenging the FIR remains under consideration.

Also read: Chaitanya Baghel, Former CM Bhupesh Baghel’s Son, Caught by ED in Multi-Crore Liquor Scam