Overview
- Special Judge Vishal Gogne said there is sufficient prima facie material to proceed on corruption, cheating and conspiracy charges, describing the Yadavs as a “criminal syndicate” at this stage.
- Lalu Prasad is charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act, while Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav, Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav face Indian Penal Code offences including cheating and criminal conspiracy.
- The court rejected pleas seeking discharge and listed further proceedings later in January for formal framing of charges and trial scheduling.
- The order discharges 52 of the 98 surviving accused and notes that proceedings against five others named earlier have abated due to their deaths.
- According to the CBI, Group-D railway posts from 2004 to 2009 were exchanged for land transferred at below-market rates to the Yadav family or linked entities, as the ED pursues a parallel money-laundering probe with property attachments; the accused deny wrongdoing and allege political targeting.