Overview
- The order finds a prima facie case of corruption, cheating and criminal conspiracy, rejecting discharge pleas by the accused.
- Charges were invoked under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC sections including 420 and 120B, with Lalu Prasad facing corruption counts and relatives facing cheating and conspiracy.
- The court said there was an overarching conspiracy mentored by Lalu Prasad and that close associates allegedly facilitated land acquisitions.
- Dozens of accused will face trial while 52 were discharged, and proceedings against five named individuals had abated due to their deaths.
- CBI alleges Group-D jobs from 2004–2009 were exchanged for land at below-market rates as the ED pursues a linked money-laundering probe with property attachments; the accused deny wrongdoing and call the case politically motivated.