Delhi HC rejects Lalu Yadav's plea to stay trial in land-for-jobs scam case

The Delhi High Court on Saturday declined to stay trial court proceedings against RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the Central Bureau of Investigation's land-for-jobs scam case. The court ruled that the ongoing proceedings before the Special Judge will continue, and the petitioner is free to raise all objections during the argument on charge.

Lalu Yadav had filed a plea seeking the cancellation of the FIR, claiming that the CBI proceeded with the case without securing the mandatory sanction for prosecution. His legal counsel, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, argued that the entire investigation lacked legal foundation and that even the court's cognisance of the charges was flawed.

However, the High Court found no compelling reason to intervene at this stage. The bench noted that the trial court had already scheduled the matter for arguments on charge and that this provided Yadav a full opportunity to contest the claims against him.

With this ruling, the path is now clear for the trial to proceed. The case, which alleges irregularities and corruption in appointments made during Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister in exchange for land parcels, remains a high-profile political and legal matter.