A Delhi court docket on Monday issued summons to former Union railway minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, his spouse and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, daughter Misa Bharti and 13 others in reference to an alleged land-for-jobs rip-off.
Rouse Avenue Courtroom particular choose Geetanjali Goel summoned the above individuals on March 15 after taking cognizance of a cost sheet filed in October final yr by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which is probing the case.
In its cost sheet on October 10, CBI named the above 16 individuals within the case and accused them of taking land from 12 candidates in return for jobs within the Railways, throughout Lalu’s stint as railway minister between 2004 and 2009.
Moreover Lalu, his spouse and daughter, former basic supervisor of Central Railways, Soumya Raghavan, former railways chief personnel officer Kamal Deep Mainrai, seven aspirants appointed as substitutes and 4 non-public people have been named within the cost sheet.
Whereas the federal company had named Hema Yadav, one other daughter of Lalu, in its FIR in Might final yr, it didn’t embody her identify within the cost sheet.
“A perusal of the cost sheet and the paperwork and materials on report, prima facie reveals fee of offences beneath part 120B (legal conspiracy) learn with sections 420 (dishonest), 467 (forgery of invaluable paperwork), 468 (forgery for goal of dishonest) and 471 (utilizing as real a solid paperwork) IPC (Indian Penal Code) and sections 8 (bribing of a public servant), 9 (bribing a public servant by group), 11 (public servant acquiring undue benefit), 12 (abetment of offence), 13 (2) (legal misconduct) learn with part 13 (1) (d) of PC (Prevention of Corruption) Act, 1988 and substantive offences thereof. Accordingly, cognizance is taken of the mentioned offences,” the court docket mentioned in its order.
“Concern summons to the accused individuals for 15.03.2023,” it added.
Reacting to the summons, RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwary mentioned: “Lalu Prasad has all the time revered the choice of the court docket. The individuals of the nation perceive that each time the BJP finds itself on the again foot, it takes assist from an investigative company. Motion is taken towards the events who increase their voice towards the BJP. Lalu Prasad has turn out to be an instance of opposition unity, that’s the reason discover has been despatched to him.
We’re not afraid, we’ll reply this.”
Dismissing the allegation, BJP state spokesperson Nikhil Anand mentioned: “It’s an previous case. It isn’t in order that because the Grand Alliance authorities is in energy in Bihar that’s the reason discover has been issued. The way in which ruling get together leaders are doing politics and issuing statements is laughable. They need to respect the legislation and court docket and maintain their views earlier than the court docket as a substitute of defaming the central companies.”