New Delhi, April 7 (HS): The Supreme Court has refused to interfere in the Delhi High Court's order granting bail to Amit Katyal in the Land for Job case. A bench headed by Justice M.M. Sundresh stated that it does not wish to intervene in the High Court's order.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court remarked that the accused is not a major player in this case. The main accused in this case have not been arrested. The court asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) whether they do not wish to catch the big fish. Why have you not arrested the 11 other accused?

The Delhi High Court granted bail to Amit Katyal on September 17, 2024. The High Court reprimanded the ED, stating that it is following a pick-and-choose policy. Previously, on May 22, 2024, the Rouse Avenue Court rejected Amit Katyal's bail application. On January 9, 2024, the ED filed a charge sheet in this case. The charge sheet names former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Hridyanand Chaudhary, and Amit Katyal as accused. The ED arrested Amit Katyal on November 11, 2023. The initial investigation in the Land for Job case was conducted by the CBI, which is also proceeding in the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi.

According to the ED, Katyal was the director of a company named AK Infosystems Private Limited. Through this company, Katyal acquired land from various candidates of the Railway Group D at very low prices. The ED claims that these plots of land were later transferred to members of Lalu Prasad Yadav's family.

In the Land for Job scam, the CBI had arrested Bhola Yadav and Hridayanand Chaudhary. Bhola Yadav served as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Lalu Yadav from 2004 to 2009. The Land for Job scam dates back to Lalu Yadav's tenure as Minister of Railways. Bhola Yadav is considered the mastermind behind this scam. It is alleged that during Lalu Yadav's time as Minister, land was demanded in exchange for jobs, and Bhola Yadav was tasked with carrying out this operation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar