New Delhi: A city court on Thursday (January 16) granted two weeks to the authorities concerned to process the requisite sanction to prosecute an accused in a corruption case linked to the alleged land-for-jobs scam involving Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne granted two weeks after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CB) informed the court that the processing of the sanction regarding an accused, a public servant, in the case – RK Mahajan – was at an advanced stage.
Competent authority shall furnish a written explanation if sanctioned not processed by next date: Court
The Special Judge, while saying that the proceedings in the case are delayed only awaiting the said sanction, warned the authorities concerned that if the sanction is not processed by the next date of hearing on January 30, “the competent authority shall furnish a written explanation by the next date of hearing.”
“The competent authority is directed to process the said matter by the next date as the present proceedings, which are required to be conducted on a weekly basis in terms of previous directions of the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court, are delayed only awaiting the said sanction in charge sheet which was filed in July 2024… the proceedings in the case are delayed only awaiting the said sanction in charge sheet which was filed in July 2024,” the Special Judge said, news agency PTI reported.
CBI on November 26 last year filed before court requisite sanctions to prosecute 30 accused
The central agency had on November 26 last year filed before the court requisite sanctions obtained from authorities concerned to prosecute 30 accused persons in the case and had informed the court that the requisite sanctions to prosecute one public servant was still awaited and had sought more time to obtain the remaining sanctions.
The CBI had earlier on September 20 last year informed the Special Judge that it had obtained the required sanction to prosecute former Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in the corruption case relating to the alleged land-for-jobs scam.
What is the case?
The CBI has alleged that during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as the railway minister during the period between 2004-2009, he indulged in corruption for appointment of Group D substitutes in Indian Railways. As per the CBI, the aspirants were asked to transfer land as bribe in return for jobs in Indian Railways and no advertisement or any public notice was issued for these appointments.
The case was registered by the CBI on May 18, 2022 against Lalu Prasad Yadav and 15 others, including Lalu Prasad Yadav’s wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi.
