NEW DELHI – In a significant legal development that could have far-reaching political implications, a Special CBI Court in Delhi on Friday (January 9, 2026) ordered the framing of charges against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and their children Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav, and Misa Bharti in the high-profile Railways 'land-for-jobs' scam.
Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts passed the order, observing that the RJD chief and his family members allegedly operated as a "criminal enterprise" and used public employment as a "bargaining chip" to acquire properties.
The case, investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), dates back to Lalu Prasad Yadav's tenure as the Union Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009. The agency alleges that during this period, Group D appointments in the Indian Railways were handed out to various candidates in exchange for land parcels transferred to the Yadav family at nominal prices or as "gifts."
According to the CBI’s chargesheet, no public recruitment process or advertisements were issued for these posts. Instead, land situated in Patna and other areas was allegedly sold or gifted by job seekers or their relatives to Lalu’s family members and companies associated with them.
While dismissing the discharge pleas filed by the Yadav family, Judge Gogne used sharp language to describe the nature of the alleged conspiracy. The court noted:
"The Ministry of Railways was used as a personal fiefdom by Lalu Prasad Yadav. There existed an overarching conspiracy by the accused by using public employment as a bargaining chip to obtain properties."
The judge further highlighted that the chargesheet strongly depicts a systematic acquisition of land in lieu of jobs, involving not just the family but also close associates who acted as facilitators or co-conspirators.
The court has categorized the charges based on the roles played by the various accused:
- Lalu Prasad Yadav: Charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act) for criminal misconduct and abuse of official position, alongside relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
- Rabri Devi, Tejashwi, Tej Pratap, and Misa Bharti: Charged primarily with Cheating (Section 420 IPC) and Criminal Conspiracy (Section 120B IPC).
- Other Accused: Out of the 98 surviving accused persons named by the CBI, the court has ordered the framing of charges against 46 individuals.
Significantly, the court discharged 52 individuals, including certain railway officials and candidates who, despite being named, did not ultimately part with their land or were not found to be part of the core conspiracy on the "touchstone of suspicion."
The CBI’s investigation claims that the Yadav family acquired over 1 lakh square feet of land for a mere ₹26 lakh, whereas the prevailing circle rate at that time would have valued the properties at over ₹4.39 crore. The agency pointed out discrepancies in documents, such as sequential roll numbers for candidates from different regions, suggesting a centralized and pre-planned recruitment drive for the "chosen ones."
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also conducting a parallel probe into the money laundering aspect of the case. The ED has already attached assets worth over ₹600 crore, characterizing them as "proceeds of crime."
The Yadav family has consistently maintained that the case is "politically motivated" and an attempt by the central government to use investigative agencies to target opposition leaders.
Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Lalu Yadav, argued during the proceedings that there was no evidence of a direct link between the appointments and the land transfers. The defense contended that the land parcels were purchased through valid sale deeds for consideration and that no recruitment rules were violated.
With the court finding sufficient prima facie evidence to proceed, the trial will now officially commence. The matter has been listed for January 23, 2026, for the formal framing of charges, where the accused will be asked whether they plead guilty or claim trial.
The CBI was represented by Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) DP Singh, assisted by Advocates Manu Mishra, Imaan Khera, and Garima Saxena.