SC Refuses to Stay Trial Against Lalu in Land-for-Jobs Case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday declined to stay trial court proceedings against former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the CBI’s land-for-jobs case.

A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh directed the Delhi High Court to expedite hearing on Yadav’s plea seeking quashing of the FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The apex court, however, granted Yadav exemption from personal appearance before the trial court.

Earlier, on May 29, the Delhi High Court had refused to stay the proceedings, stating there was no compelling reason to intervene. It issued notice to the CBI and listed the matter for hearing on August 12.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities in Group D appointments in the West Central Railway between 2004 and 2009, during Lalu’s tenure as railway minister. The CBI alleges jobs were given in exchange for land transferred to his family or associates.