Delhi court frames charges against Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi in land-for-jobs case
Delhi court frames charges against Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi in land-for-jobs case
Charges framed in the land-for-jobs case against Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi; next steps and timeline laid out as other accused await framing.
A Delhi court on Monday formally framed corruption and criminal conspiracy charges against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi in the land-for-jobs case. The charges were framed after the duo appeared in court physically, listed as A-1 and A-2 respectively, and they pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.
The court has set February 27 as the next hearing date, by which charges against the rest of the accused are expected to be formally framed. Earlier, on January 29, Yadav, Devi and sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap Yadav were exempted from personally appearing for framing; exemptions were granted for medical reasons for Yadav and Devi and for Tej Pratap due to constituency duties, while Tejashwi was also exempted but could appear later. Despite the exemptions, charges were framed against Yadav’s elder daughter Misa Bharti and sister Hema Yadav.
Prosecution evidence will proceed from March 9 to March 28. Tejashwi Yadav has had charges framed, while Tej Pratap Yadav’s framing is still pending. The court had already, on January 9, framed corruption and criminal conspiracy charges against Yadav when he was Railway Minister, Rabri Devi, and several family members in the same land-for-jobs context.
