Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has approached the Delhi High Court, seeking to quash the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) First Information Report (FIR) in the land-for-jobs scam.
The petition argues that the FIR was filed without the mandatory sanction required under the Prevention of Corruption Act, rendering the investigation and subsequent proceedings illegal.
Representing Yadav, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal contended before Justice Ravinder Dudeja that the CBI initiated the FIR without obtaining prior approval, which is a statutory requirement when investigating a public servant. Sibal emphasised that the absence of such sanction invalidates the entire investigation process.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities during Yadav’s tenure as the Union Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009, involving appointments to Group D positions in exchange for land parcels.
The CBI, however, has accused Yadav of deliberately delaying proceedings in the trial court. The agency alleges that Yadav has not completed his arguments on charges before the trial court, which is scheduled to conclude on September 9.
The judge noted that even if the lack of sanction is accepted, it would apply only to offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, not to those under the Indian Penal Code. The hearing is set to continue on September 25.
This legal development comes at a politically-sensitive time, with the Bihar Assembly elections expected to take place before November 22, 2025. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for Yadav’s political future and the RJD’s prospects in the upcoming elections.