Land-for-Jobs-Case: Delhi Court Grants Interim Bail to Ex-Bihar CM Rabri Devi & Daughters

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Friday extended interim bail to former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi and her daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav until February 28 in the Railways land-for-job case.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne granted the relief as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) requested additional time to present arguments on their regular bail application.

The accused appeared before the court following the summons issued by the court in response to the charge sheet filed by the ED.

During the proceedings, the court questioned the ED about the necessity for the accused’s custody, given that they were not arrested during the investigation.

The Court had earlier issued notices against Amit Katyal, Rabri Devi, Misha Bharti, Hema Yadav, and Hridyanand Chaudhary to be present on February 9, 2024, for further trial in the alleged ‘land for job scam’.

The ED had filed a prosecution complaint (PC) on January 1, 2024, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, against Amit Katyal, Rabri Devi, Misha Bharti, Hema Yadav, Hridyanand Chaudhary, and two companies–A K Infosystems Private Limited, A B Exports Pvt. Ltd.–before the Special Court (PMLA), New Delhi, in the alleged scam.

The central agency initiated investigations based on an FIR registered by CBI related to land for job scam alleging that Lalu Yadav, the then Railway Minister, indulged in corruption for the appointment of Group D substitutes in Indian Railways during the period 2004-2009.

The candidates were told to transfer land as a bribe in return for jobs in Indian Railways as per FIR.

The CBI has also filed a charge sheet. The ED alleged that Lalu’s kin–Rabri Devi, Misha Bharti, Hema Yadav–who are accused in the prosecution complaint–received the land parcel(s) from the family of candidates (who were selected as Group D substitutes in the Indian Railways) for nominal amounts.