New Delhi, May 31 (H.S.): The bench of Justice Ravindra Dudeja of the Delhi High Court has dismissed the petition filed by RJD chief Lalu Yadav seeking the cancellation of the FIR and chargesheet filed by the CBI in the land for job scam case. The court had reserved its decision on May 29. In this case, the CBI had filed a chargesheet against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, and 16 others.Lalu Yadav had sought the cancellation of the FIR and chargesheet filed by the CBI in the land for job case. During the hearing, senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, representing Lalu Yadav, argued that no FIR was registered between 2004 and 2009. He stated that after a closure report was filed, the CBI registered an FIR in 2020, which he termed as harassment.

During the hearing, lawyer DP Singh, representing the CBI, opposed Lalu Yadav's petition, stating that the necessary permission under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act had been obtained to prosecute Lalu Yadav. In response, Sibal argued that prior to Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, permission should be obtained under Section 17A, which was not acquired. DP Singh then stated that the matter regarding the necessary permission under Section 17A is pending before a larger bench of the Supreme Court.

DP Singh further noted that this case pertains to a public servant, as selections in the Railway Group D were conducted in exchange for land based on recommendations from the minister's associates. The court remarked that the issue related to prior permission for prosecution could have also been raised in the trial court. In response, Sibal stated that the trial court had taken cognizance of the chargesheet and there was no possibility of it changing its stance.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar