A Delhi court has rejected the requests of Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and other accused for access to over 1,600 unrelied documents in the land-for-jobs case, ruling that such a demand would disrupt the judicial process and delay the trial. Special Judge Vishal Gogne emphasized that the trial must proceed based on relied-upon evidence and that providing unrelied documents en bloc before cross-examination would invert the statutory trial framework, potentially causing disarray. The court noted that the accused had already been given adequate opportunity to inspect relevant documents and that their pleas appeared aimed at stalling the proceedings.

The case involves allegations that during Lalu Prasad’s tenure as railway minister (2004-2009), Group D appointments in the Indian Railways were made in exchange for land parcels transferred to his family or associates. Charges have been framed against Lalu Prasad, his family members, and others, with 41 accused facing trial. The court highlighted that the accused cannot condition the continuation of the trial on receiving unrelied documents and must prepare their defense based on the prosecution’s relied-upon evidence, ensuring a fair and expeditious trial process.