By The Sampadak Express
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed a Delhi court on Wednesday that individuals who could not even sign their names were appointed to Group-D positions in the Indian Railways under political pressure from former Railway Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. The appointments were allegedly made in exchange for land parcels transferred to Mr. Yadav’s family and associates.
The allegations were made during a hearing at the Rouse Avenue Court before Special Judge Vishal Gogne, as part of the ongoing proceedings in the “land-for-jobs” scam case. The CBI registered the FIR in May 2022, concerning irregular appointments made between 2004 and 2009 in the West Central Railway zone, headquartered in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
Bulk Appointments and Fake Documents
Special Public Prosecutor D.P. Singh told the court that many selected candidates hailed from poor families in Bihar and were not qualified for the jobs. He claimed that several applicants were illiterate and possessed fake school certificates from institutions allegedly created for this purpose.
According to the agency, the recruitment process was manipulated to approve multiple applications in a single day a sharp deviation from the standard procedure, which typically takes much longer.
Questionable Land Deals
The CBI presented a chart detailing suspicious land transactions involving members of Mr. Yadav’s family, including his son, Tejashwi Yadav, a former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar. The chart showed that parcels of land valued at ₹85,000 were transferred for just ₹50,000.
Investigators allege that many of the candidates or their family members either gifted or sold land to Mr. Yadav’s relatives or to a private company linked to them. The company reportedly facilitated the transfer of these properties to the Yadav family.
Ongoing Investigations
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also probing the matter under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED has claimed that proceeds of the alleged crime currently amount to ₹600 crore.
The court proceedings on framing of charges, which began on June 2, will continue on Thursday, June 5.
