NEW DELHI, Oct 4: A court here on Wednesday granted bail to RJD chief Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and their son and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav in the alleged land-for-job scam in the railways, noting since they were not apprehended by the CBI during the probe “there would be no need for arrest at the instance of the court”.
Special Judge Geetanjali Goel granted relief to the accused after they appeared before the court in pursuance of summons issued against them.
The CBI did not oppose their application moved by senior advocate Maninder Singh.
The counsel appearing for the accused submitted that their clients were not arrested during the investigation and charge-sheet was filed without arrest.
The judge observed that the Supreme Court had categorically held that in the case where the accused was either not arrested consciously by the prosecution or arrested and enlarged on bail, there is no need for further arrest at the instance of the court, i.e. where the investigating agency has not exercised the power of arrest, there is no need for further arrest at the instance of the court.
“As such, when the accused is charge sheeted without arrest, there would be no need for arrest at the instance of the court. Further there is nothing to show that the accused are a flight risk. The charge-sheet has already been filed,” the judge said while granting bail to the accused persons.
The accused furnished personal bond of Rs 50,000 each with surety of a like amount.
The judge directed them not to tamper with the evidence or try to influence the witnesses.
“The accused persons shall also deposit their passports and shall not travel abroad without the permission of the court,” the judge said.
The judge also granted bail to co-accused Dil Chand Kumar, Gyan Chand Rai, Hazari Rai, Maheep Kapur, Manoj Pande, Mahesh Singh, Mohd. Dhanif Ansari, Satrudhan Kumar, Ashok Kumar Yadav, Ram Briksh Yadav and Rajnath Singh.
The central probe agency was also directed to supply copies of the charge sheet and other related documents to the accused.
The case pertains to Group-D appointments made in West Central Zone of the railways based in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh during Lalu Prasad’s tenure as the railway minister from 2004 to 2009.
In return for land parcels gifted or transferred by the recruits in the name of the RJD supremo’s family or associates, according to officials.
The agency registered the case on May 18, 2022 against former Bihar chief minister Prasad and 15 others.
This includes his wife, two daughters, and unidentified public servants and private persons. (PTI)
