Illiterate people were given jobs due to pressure by Lalu’s Rail Ministry, CBI tells court in ‘land for jobs’ scam case

CBI reveals land-for-jobs scam involving Indian Railways, Lalu Prasad Yadav; ED probes money laundering worth ₹600 crore.

People who could not even write their names were given Group-D jobs in the Indian Railways due to pressure extended by the Railway Ministry, then headed by Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told a Delhi court on Wednesday (June 4, 2025). Those selected for these jobs allegedly gifted or transferred land parcels in the name of Mr. Yadav, his relatives, and associates, the agency claimed.

The CBI’s submissions were made in the court of Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court during a hearing in the alleged land-for-jobs scam case, which pertains to an FIR filed by the Central agency in May 2022. The fraudulent appointments were allegedly made in the West Central Zone of the Railways, based in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, between 2004 and 2009.

The arguments on charges in the case, which started on Monday (June 2, 2025) will continue on Thursday (June 5, 2025) as well.

During the ongoing proceedings, special public prosecutor D.P. Singh underlined that all applicants for the posts which were part of the scam came from poor economic backgrounds in Bihar. He noted that while many selected candidates were not even able to write their names, many had fake certificates which were given by schools which were opened for this purpose.

The agency alleged that the applications were cleared in bulk in a single day, while the normal process takes a long time.

The CBI also produced a chart showing land transfers made in the name of the RJD chief’s son, Tejashwi Yadav, a former Deputy CM of Bihar, for ₹50,000 at a time when the market value of the land was ₹85,000.

The agency alleged that those hired for the Group-D jobs were residents of Patna, and that they themselves or through their family members, sold or gifted their land to Mr. Yadav’s family members and the private company controlled by them. The company was also allegedly involved in the transfer of such immovable properties in the names of Mr. Yadav’s family members.