Delhi, 24 November (H.S.):

In a significant development on Monday, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi petitioned the Rouse Avenue Court to transfer the high-profile railway tender and land-for-jobs scam cases from their current judge, alleging partiality and a preconceived agenda against her and her family.

The application calls for the recusal of Judge Vishal Gogne from four pending cases, contending that the proceedings are being conducted in a biased manner. In her plea, Rabri Devi asserted that the judge appears to be assisting the prosecution rather than acting as a neutral arbiter, thereby compromising the prospects of a fair trial.

The petition argues that Judge Gogne is operating with a fixed mindset against her family.This move comes just over a month after Judge Gogne, on October 13, formally framed charges against Rabri Devi, her husband and former Union Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, and their son Tejashwi Yadav in the railway tender Scam case. The accused had pleaded not guilty and stated their intent to face trial.

Following their plea, the court ordered the framing of charges under Sections 428 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code, alongside Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has maintained that it possesses substantial evidence to prosecute the accused in the railway tender scam.

The case, which has been under investigation by both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), pertains to allegations of corruption during Lalu Prasad Yadav's tenure as the railway minister.The ED had filed a chargesheet naming 16 individuals and entities, including the Yadav family members, in connection with the case.

The court took cognizance of this chargesheet on September 17, 2018, and has subsequently granted regular bail to the primary accused. Rabri Devi's petition now seeks to ensure that the trial proceeds under a different judicial authority to guarantee impartiality.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar