Land-for-jobs case: Got sanction to prosecute Lalu, ED tells court; Tej Pratap allowed to travel abroad

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday informed a Delhi court that it has obtained the requisite sanctions to prosecute RJD chief Lalu Prasad in a money laundering case in the alleged "land-for-jobs scam" which took place when he was the central railways minister.

President Droupadi Murmu on May 8 granted sanction to prosecute Lalu in the money laundering case.

Murmu accorded the permission as mandated under section 197(1) of the CrPC (Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023).

After being informed about it on Wednesday, special judge Vishal Gogne posted the matter on May 23 for consideration.

"The ED has filed an application to bring on record the sanction for prosecution of Lalu Prasad Yadav received from the MHA, GOI. List for consideration on May 23, 2025," the judge said.

Advocate Manish Jain appeared for the ED.

The case has been investigated by the ED, and the federal probe agency chargesheeted the 76-year-old former Bihar chief minister, his son and former deputy CM of the state Tejashwi Yadav and other family members in August last year.

Previously, in January 2024, the ED filed its first chargesheet against an alleged associate of the Prasad family, Amit Katyal, and other family members of Prasad, including his wife and former Bihar CM Rabri Devi, MP daughter Misa Bharti, another daughter Hema Yadav and two associated companies -- A K Infosystems Private Limited and A B Exports Pvt. Ltd.

The court recently took cognisance of both these chargesheets (prosecution complaints).

The case stems from a CBI FIR alleging that Prasad indulged in "corruption" in the appointment of Group D substitutes in the Indian Railways during 2004-2009.

The candidates or their family members were allegedly told to transfer land as a bribe in return for jobs in the Railways, according to the CBI FIR.

These land parcels were directly or indirectly registered in the name of the family members of Lalu Prasad. The CBI has also filed three chargesheets in this case.

Delhi court allows RJD's Tej Pratap to travel abroad, says 'intrinsic right'

 A Delhi court on Wednesday allowed RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's son, Tej Pratap Yadav, accused in a case stemming from the alleged land-for-jobs scam to travel abroad.

Special judge Vishal Gogne allowed Yadav to travel to Maldives between May 17 and 23 on furnishing a deposit of Rs 25 lakh.

"The gravity of the allegations is by itself not reason to deny foreign travel to an accused who is on bail. It is to be observed that the right to travel is an intrinsic right enjoyed by any person, including an accused," the judge said.

The court also directed Yadav to inform the court about his travel itinerary including placing on record the details of his stay in Maldives, including the contact number to be used by him during the period there.

"In any eventuality, applicant shall not request for extension of his stay abroad. Applicant shall not tamper with evidence or influence witnesses in any manner and shall not use the permission granted to him in any manner which is contrary to the rules," the court added.

The court on March 11 granted bail to Yadav after he appeared in the court following summons.