The court, in a written order issued on May 31, refused to stay trial court proceedings in the case. Lalu Prasad had filed a petition seeking cancellation of the FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the chargesheet filed in connection with the alleged scam. The Delhi High Court had reserved its judgment on May 29 following detailed arguments and passed the order on Friday.
However, the court has issued notice on Lalu Prasad Yadav’s main petition and asked the CBI to respond within six weeks. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on August 12.
Senior Supreme Court advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Lalu Prasad Yadav, argued that the CBI had initiated investigation without mandatory prior approval, which is a legal prerequisite. He contended that while approval may have been obtained in other cases, in this specific matter it was not, and on that basis, the FIR and chargesheet should be quashed.
The CBI has filed a chargesheet against 78 individuals, alleging appointments in return for land transfers. The agency has named 38 candidates as beneficiaries and conducted a detailed probe. On March 6, the CBI filed its third chargesheet in the case, which included Bhola Yadav, a close aide of Lalu Prasad Yadav, as one of the accused.
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First Published: May 31, 2025 8:05 PM IST
