New Delhi, 19 March (H.S.): Rouse Avenue Court dismissed petitions from Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi seeking 1,600 documents disregarded by the Enforcement Directorate in the CBI's Land-for-Jobs case, with Special Judge Vishal Gogne deeming the demand tantamount to flowing the Ganga backwards and disruptive to trial proceedings.

The court similarly rejected analogous pleas by co-accused RK Mahajan (one document) and Mahi Kapoor (23 documents), prioritizing prosecutorial evidence presentation over wholesale disclosures. Charges were formally framed against Yadav on February 16; both he and Rabri Devi denied allegations while consenting to trial, wherein the court noted Yadav orchestrated a syndicate during his Railway Minister tenure (2004-09).

Rabri's prior transfer bid to another court was rebuffed by Principal District Judge Dinesh Bhatt on December 19; the Supreme Court denied stay on July 18, 2025. CBI's October 7, 2022 chargesheet implicated Lalu, Rabri, Misa Bharti et al. (16 total), with cognizance taken February 25, 2025.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar