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NEW DELHI: The Delhi precocious court connected Tuesday dismissed a plea by RJD main and erstwhile railway curate Lalu Prasad Yadav seeking to quash a CBI FIR successful the alleged land-for-jobs case, holding that the petition was “devoid of merit”.
The bid was passed by justness Ravinder Dudeja, efficaciously allowing the probe and related proceedings to continue.The petition had challenged the FIR registered connected May 18, 2022, on with 3 chargesheets filed successful 2022, 2023 and 2024, and the orders done which cognisance was taken. However, the tribunal rejected each grounds raised by Yadav, concluding that determination was nary ineligible ground to interfere astatine this stage.
Yadav had argued that the full proceedings were invalid owed to the lack of anterior authorisation nether Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Appearing for him, elder advocator Kapil Sibal contended that the alleged acts took spot during Yadav’s tenure arsenic Railway Minister betwixt 2004 and 2009 and were truthful portion of his authoritative duties, making anterior support mandatory earlier immoderate investigation.Opposing the plea, further solicitor wide S.V. Raju, appearing for the CBI, argued that nary specified authorisation was required.
He maintained that decisions regarding appointments were taken by wide managers alternatively than the Minister directly, and frankincense the extortion nether Section 17A would not apply.The HC had earlier heard elaborate submissions from some sides and allowed clip for written arguments earlier delivering its verdict.The lawsuit pertains to alleged irregular appointments to Group D posts successful the westbound cardinal portion of the Indian Railways, based successful Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
The CBI has alleged that jobs were granted successful speech for onshore parcels transferred to Yadav’s household members oregon associates.The FIR names Yadav among respective accused, including his wife, 2 daughters, unidentified nationalist officials and backstage individuals.In his plea, Yadav besides cited a important delay, noting that the FIR was filed astir 14 years aft the alleged incidents, contempt earlier enquiries having been closed with a study submitted earlier a competent court.
He argued that reopening the lawsuit without disclosing these closure reports amounted to an maltreatment of process.The petition further claimed that the probe was politically motivated and violated his close to a just probe, reiterating that the lack of support nether Section 17A rendered the proceedings void from the outset.Rejecting these contentions, the High Court held that the plea lacked merit, clearing the mode for the lawsuit to proceed.
