"Personal Fiefdom": Delhi Court Frames Corruption Charges Against Lalu Prasad and Family

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A Delhi court has ordered formal charges against former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in the land-for-job scam. His wife, Rabri Devi, and their son, Tejashwi Yadav, also face charges of corruption and criminal conspiracy.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne stated that the Railway Ministry was treated like a "personal fiefdom" between 2004 and 2009. The court has found enough evidence to move forward with a full criminal trial against the family and several others involved.

How the Railway Ministry Became a Family Business


The court described the operation as a criminal enterprise. Investigators say the Yadav family gave out Group-D railway jobs in exchange for land. These jobs were mostly in the West Central Railway zone. It also noted that there was no fair or open hiring process during this time. Instead, candidates from Bihar allegedly sold or gifted land to the Yadavs to get a job.

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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) identified 98 people in the case, but the court focused on the main players. Charges will be framed against 41 of those individuals on 23 January 2026. The judge also highlighted that the land was often bought at prices far below market value. This allowed the family to build a massive property portfolio while using government jobs as currency. This ruling means the legal battle is moving from the investigation phase into a high-stakes trial.

The Hidden Victims of the Land-for-Job Scam


The real victims of this scam are the honest job seekers who were cheated out of a career. Thousands of qualified people from poor backgrounds applied for these roles but were ignored. They did not have land to trade, so they never stood a chance. This created a system where wealth, not merit, decided who worked for the government.

On the other hand, there is also a major concern regarding railway safety. Some reports suggest that those who secured their jobs were not trained properly. Some candidates allegedly used fake certificates to meet the requirements. By putting untrained people in roles like track maintenance, the scam put the public at risk. Many families who traded their land are also struggling today. They lost their only valuable asset for a low-paying job that is now caught in a legal mess.

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Upon considering all the facts, the upcoming trial will likely last for months and will be public. It comes at a difficult time for the RJD party as they prepare for elections in Bihar. The court’s strong words about a criminal syndicate make it hard for the family to claim this is just a political attack.