Lalu Yadav files petition in Delhi High Court to quash FIR and chargesheet in 'land for jobs' case. Kapil Sibal presents legal arguments.
Bihar: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav is once again in the headlines. This time, it's the 'land for jobs' scam, where the CBI has filed an FIR and chargesheet against him. Lalu Yadav has approached the Delhi High Court seeking the quashing of these proceedings. He argues that the FIR and chargesheet filed by the CBI are not in accordance with the law.
What is the 'land for jobs' scam?
This case dates back to Lalu Yadav's tenure as the Railway Minister of India. The CBI alleges that during his time as Railway Minister, land was transferred in the name of his family members in exchange for railway jobs given to certain individuals. The CBI claims this was a planned scam where land was acquired in exchange for jobs. Besides Lalu Yadav, some members of his family are also implicated in the allegations.
Lalu Yadav's petition: What are the main arguments?
Senior advocate and Congress leader Kapil Sibal, appearing for Lalu Yadav, argued in court that the CBI did not obtain the necessary sanction before initiating the investigation. Sibal informed the court that according to a Supreme Court order, prior sanction is mandatory before initiating an investigation against any government official. However, in this case, the CBI launched the investigation without sanction, violating the law.
Sibal also argued that while sanction may have been obtained in other cases, it was not in this instance. This raises questions about the entire investigation process and is against the principles of justice. Lalu Yadav contends that this case might be part of a political conspiracy to implicate him and his family.
CBI's argument: What does the investigating agency say?
While there has been no official response from the CBI yet, the agency maintains that it conducted the entire investigation process according to the rules. The CBI claims it possesses sufficient evidence to prove the involvement of Lalu Yadav and his family. Three chargesheets have been filed in this case, and the trial court has taken cognizance of them.
