The Rouse Avenue court in Delhi has extended regular bail to Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Hema Yadav, and Hridyanand Chaudhary in connection with the land-for-job case linked to money laundering. All accused individuals appeared in person before the court, having previously been granted interim bail on February 9.
Special judge Vishal Gogne granted regular bail to the accused persons upon the furnishing of a bail bond of Rs. one lakh and a surety bond in the same amount. The court noted that none of the accused were arrested during the investigation, and there is no indication of any attempt to evade the law.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) submitted a response to the regular bail applications of Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Hema Yadav, and Hridyanand Chaudhary. The Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) for ED, Manish Jain, along with Snehal Sharda, emphasized the gravity of the allegations and requested the imposition of strict conditions if bail is granted.
Additionally, Amit Katyal has sought an extension of interim bail, which is set to expire on March 4. The court directed the ED to file a response to the application and scheduled the matter for hearing on March 5. The interim bail for Amit Katyal is considered to be extended until the next court date.
The court had initially granted interim bail to Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, and Hema Yadav after they appeared in court on February 9, following summons issued based on a charge sheet filed by the Directorate of Enforcement.
The land-for-job case involves allegations against several individuals, including former Bihar CM Rabri Devi, her daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, Hridyanand Chaudhary, and Amit Katyal. Two firms, AB Export, and AK Infosystems, are also implicated in the case.
The ED’s investigation revealed transactions involving the family members of former railways minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. Search operations conducted in various locations yielded substantial amounts of unaccounted cash, foreign currency, gold, and incriminating documents.
Furthermore, the investigation uncovered the acquisition of lands at prominent locations in Patna and other areas by Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family in exchange for railway jobs. Several individuals and entities allegedly facilitated these transactions, involving significant amounts of proceeds of crime.
The ED’s inquiry continues to shed light on the complex web of transactions and alleged malpractices surrounding the land-for-job scheme, underscoring the ongoing efforts to ensure accountability and transparency in such matters.