The Supreme Court of India on Friday declined to entertain Lalu Prasad Yadav’s plea seeking a stay on the trial proceedings in the land-for-jobs scam case, while directing the Delhi High Court to decide the main petition seeking quashing of the FIR filed by the CBI.
A Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh heard the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief’s petition. The petition challenged the Delhi High Court’s May 29 order. This order had refused to stay trial court proceedings. Although the High Court had issued notice to the CBI, it found no urgency to halt the trial.
Before the Supreme Court, Lalu Prasad Yadav argued that Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act mandates prior sanction from the competent authority before investigation. He claimed that the CBI failed to obtain this sanction. He further claimed that a similar matter was previously investigated between 2009 and 2014. It was closed. This makes the current probe a violation of his fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution.
Connect with us on Instagram – X – LinkedIn for daily updates, quizzes, and other materials.
Despite refusing to stay the proceedings, the apex court offered partial relief to Yadav. It allowed him to be exempted from personal appearance before the trial court. This exemption applies during the pendency of the case.
The CBI alleges that during Lalu Prasad Yadav tenure as Railway Minister (2004–2009), several individuals were appointed to railway jobs. In return, land parcels were transferred to his family members.
The Supreme Court has given instructions. The Delhi High Court must expeditiously dispose of the main petition challenging the FIR in the case.
Also Read
Bombay High Court Upholds Constitutional Validity of UAPA, Dismisses Petition
