New Delhi, 8 December (H.S.): A Delhi court on Monday deferred its order on framing of charges against former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and others in the Land-for-Jobs scam case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The order will now be pronounced on December 10, Special Judge Vishal Gogne said.

During the hearing, the court was informed that some of the accused in the case have passed away. The judge subsequently directed the CBI to verify the deaths of those individuals and submit a status report before the court.This is the third time the court has deferred its decision — earlier adjournments were made on November 10 and December 4 for various procedural reasons.

The Rouse Avenue Court had reserved its order on August 25, after hearing detailed arguments from both sides on whether charges should be framed.Meanwhile, Lalu Prasad has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of the FIR lodged by the CBI and a stay on the ongoing trial court proceedings. His wife and co-accused, Rabri Devi, has moved an application before the Principal and District Judge seeking transfer of the case from Judge Gogne’s court to another bench; the transfer plea remains pending.

During the last High Court hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Lalu Prasad, argued that the CBI had failed to obtain the mandatory sanction for prosecution required under law, rendering the entire investigation “illegal and unsustainable.”

Sibal contended that no lawful inquiry or proceedings could begin without the requisite approval.In response, CBI’s counsel countered that the accused himself had deliberately avoided making arguments before the trial court on charge-framing, thereby delaying the proceedings.

The Land-for-Jobs case concerns allegations that Lalu Prasad, during his tenure as Union Railway Minister (2004–2009), accepted plots of land from candidates and their families in exchange for appointments to positions in the Indian Railways.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar