Delhi High Court on Saturday rejected a plea moved by RJD chief Lalu Prasad seeking to stay the trial court proceedings in the alleged land-for-jobs corruption case registered by the CBI.

Justice Ravinder Dudeja found “no compelling reasons” to stay the proceedings of the trial court in the case. He observed that the matter is now being heard by a special judge in Rouse Avenue court in the national capital, and the court is dealing with arguments on the charge.

The high court stated that Lalu should raise all his contentions at the stage of considering the charge in the trial court. The trial court would hear arguments on the charge on June 2.

The land-for-jobs case pertains to alleged Group D appointments in the railways in exchange for land parcels transferred to the Yadav family or associates at undervalued prices or as gifts. The CBI has alleged that Lalu facilitated jobs in return for land during his tenure as the railway minister from 2004 to 2009.

A case was lodged against Lalu and others in May 2022. Lalu has raised the delay of 14 years in lodging FIR in the matter and also cited legal lacunae that the CBI failed to obtain mandatory sanction under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act against him, which, according to him, was also ignored by the special court.

Countering Lalu’s submission, the CBI informed the high court that the question of applicability of Section 17-A of the PC Act is pending consideration before the larger bench of the Supreme Court.

Lalu, his wife Rabri Devi, and two sons — Tejashwi and Tej Pratap — were named as accused among others in the case. At present, they are out on bail.