A Delhi court is hearing arguments in the alleged land-for-jobs case involving former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi and Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav. On Tuesday, Devi's counsel, senior advocate Maninder Singh, argued that there was a "complete disconnect between the land and jobs" in the case.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne is overseeing the arguments against 103 accused persons, four of whom have died.
Singh told the court that land was bought and money was paid to the sellers. He said the most that could be alleged was that the land was purchased at cheap rates. He argued there was "no quid pro quo" and that land was sold because the owners "need money".
The senior advocate said the only allegation against Rabri Devi was that she benefited. He questioned the prosecution's logic, asking, "When you say land was taken, why would she pay for it? How did she benefit when there are sale deeds?"
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He further challenged the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), asking how it could be argued that jobs were given for plots of land. He noted that one of the agency’s key witnesses said he was asked to sell his land because Yadav was creating a large, continuous piece of land.
"Buying land is not a crime," Singh argued. He pointed out that the CBI itself used the word "purchased" when accusing Yadav of acquiring land in exchange for jobs.
The prosecution has alleged that during Yadav's tenure as railway minister from 2004 to 2009, Group-D appointments in the West Central Zone of the Railways were made in exchange for land parcels. These land parcels were allegedly gifted or transferred to Yadav’s family or associates by the job recruits.
Arguments on behalf of Rabri Devi are set to continue on Wednesday.
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