New Delhi: A Delhi court has allowed Tej Pratap, son of Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad, accused in a case related to the land for job scam, to travel abroad. Special Judge Vishal Gogane allowed Yadav to travel to Maldives between May 17 and 23 on depositing a sum of Rs 25 lakh.
The gravity of the charges in itself is not a reason to deny an accused released on bail the right to travel abroad. It must be observed that the right to travel is an inherent right of any person, including the accused, the judge said.
Lalu cannot request for extension of his stay abroad
The court has also directed Yadav to inform the court about his travel schedule including details of his stay in Maldives, including the contact numbers used by him during the period of stay abroad. The court said that in no case will the applicant request for extension of his stay abroad. The applicant will not tamper with the evidence in any way or influence the witnesses and will not use the permission granted to him in any way against the rules.
Case is related to Madhya Pradesh
The court granted bail to Yadav on March 11. Yadav appeared in the court after the summons. The case relates to Group 'D' appointments in the West Central Zone of the Indian Railways located in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. It is alleged that candidates recruited during Lalu Prasad's tenure as Union Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009 were given jobs in exchange for land gifted or transferred to them in the name of the RJD supremo's family or associates. In this regard, on May 18 2022, a case was filed against Lalu and his wife, two daughters, unknown government officials and private persons, among others.
Prakash Kumar Pandey