The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a petition filed by Lalu Prasad Yadav seeking the quashing of the FIR registered against him and his family members in the ‘Land for Jobs’ case. Following the order, proceedings in the matter will continue before the trial court.
A bench comprising Justice M. M. Sundresh and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh held that there were no grounds to quash the FIR in the case. The court, however, granted partial relief to Lalu Prasad Yadav by stating that he would not be required to appear in person during the trial proceedings.
Earlier, on March 24, the Delhi High Court had rejected a similar plea seeking the quashing of the FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The High Court had also ruled that the argument regarding the absence of prior sanction under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act was not applicable in this case.
The case pertains to the period between 2004 and 2009, when Lalu Prasad Yadav served as Railway Minister. According to the CBI, appointments were made to Group D posts in the West Central Railway zone in Jabalpur in alleged violation of rules. It is alleged that, in exchange for these jobs, candidates or their family members transferred land or properties in the names of Lalu Prasad Yadav, his relatives, or associates.
