New Delhi: Former Railways minister and Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav was Wednesday granted bail by a Delhi court in connection with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)’s alleged land-for-jobs case. Lalu’s wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi and their daughter RJD MP Misa Bharti were also granted bail by the court in the case related to alleged appointments made in the Railways in return for land parcels gifted or sold to Lalu’s family when he was the minister between 2004 and 2009.

The CBI had previously questioned Lalu, Rabri and Misa in connection with the case.

According to the CBI, at least eight people were given Group D jobs in the Railways in lieu of plots of land at the time. Lalu and his family allegedly acquired over 1 lakh sq ft of land for just Rs 26 lakh, when the then cumulative market value was over Rs 4.39 crore.

The agency noted that out of the seven land sale deeds, three were executed in favour of Rabri, one was in the name of Misa, one in favour of M/s AK Infosystems — Rabri purchased the majority of shares of this company in 2014 — and two gift deeds in favour of Hema.

Earlier Lalu’s son and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with nine other Opposition leaders, alleging “blatant” misuse of central agencies.

On Tuesday, Tejashwi skipped CBI’s questioning in the case for the third time. He was given notice to appear for questioning on Tuesday, after he did not do so on March 4 and March 11.

Agencies

Press Trust of India