A Delhi court granted bail to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, and younger son, Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, along with 14 others on Wednesday in the alleged ‘land-for-jobs’ scam in the railways.

All of them had appeared before special CBI judge Geetanjali Goel at Rouse Avenue Court following summons. She granted them regular bail on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 each, scheduled the next hearing on October 16, and directed the CBI to serve a copy of the chargesheet to all the accused.

The CBI had opposed the bail by arguing that the accused held powerful positions and could influence the case. However, the court did not accept it. Lalu’s eldest daughter and Rajya Sabha member Misa Bharti was also present on the occasion.

The agency had filed a second chargesheet in the case against 17 persons on July 3 this year in which Tejashwi’s name was included in the case.

RJD supporters burst crackers and danced to music in front of Rabri’s residence in Patna after getting information about bail to their leaders.

Talking to reporters at the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi, Tejashwi said: “We have faith in the judiciary and we trust the courts. We presented our side and we got justice and bail. We welcome it.”

The RJD leader pointed out that he could not be connected in any way to the alleged land-for-jobs scam in the railways because he was a student at that time.

“I used to study in the RK Puram area of Delhi and play cricket in those days,” he said.

Alleging the prevalence of vendetta politics in the country, Tejashwi said: “We all are seeing what is happening in the country. Action is taken on those who speak the truth, raise the issues of the people, and question the present government. All your stains are washed away if you are in the BJP. If you are against it, you face the music. Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh’s residence is being searched on Wednesday, while the premises of several journalists were searched on Tuesday.”

The RJD leader asserted that he had predicted searches and raids when the Grand Alliance government came to power in Bihar in August 2022 and it came true.

“My name was not in the chargesheet in this case, but it was included in the supplementary chargesheet,” Tejashwi said.