**Lalu Prasad Yadav Claims Selective Targeting by CBI in Land-for-Jobs Case**
Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav is facing selective targeting by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the ongoing land-for-jobs case, according to his lawyer’s statements in a Delhi court. This assertion comes shortly after the Supreme Court declined to halt the trial proceedings against Yadav.
Senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing Yadav, accused the CBI of “cherry-picking” evidence to construct a case against the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and his family. He raised concerns about the connection between land transactions and railway job appointments, emphasizing that these events occurred years apart. “How can the agency link land sales to job allotments when they happened years apart?” Singh questioned, illustrating his point with the analogy, “In three days, the Pacific Ocean changed due to the tsunami. Multiple years is a long time to wait.”
The case revolves around alleged irregularities in Group D appointments within the Indian Railways during Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009 under the UPA-I government. The CBI’s chargesheet claims that candidates were appointed in exchange for land parcels transferred to Yadav’s family or close associates by the recruits.
Singh highlighted that while there are 103 accused in the case, the chargesheet only references 12 land parcels. He also inquired whether any land seller had reported being pressured by Yadav to transfer their property.
In June, the CBI submitted its third and final chargesheet to the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi, naming 78 individuals, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tej Pratap Yadav (charged for the first time), daughter Hema Yadav, former Officer on Special Duty Bhola Yadav, and a former RJD staff member. The charges include criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery under the Indian Penal Code, along with violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Notably, in May, the President authorized the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prosecute Yadav in this case. The ED’s investigation was initiated based on the original CBI FIR, which alleged that job seekers were coerced into transferring land to Yadav’s family in exchange for employment.
Yadav’s lawyer accused the agency of attempting to “dig deep” to expand the case against his client and family. The court is currently deliberating on whether to acknowledge the latest chargesheet filed by the CBI.
**FAQ**
**Q: What is the land-for-jobs case involving Lalu Prasad Yadav?**
A: The land-for-jobs case alleges that during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister, candidates were appointed to railway jobs in exchange for land parcels transferred to his family or associates.
