Sushil Modi: The Whistleblower Who Brought the ‘Land-for-Job’ Scam of the Lalu Family to Trial

Patna: Sushil Kumar Modi, former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, has long been recognized not only as a politician but also as a whistleblower who has actively exposed corruption. His efforts have been instrumental in bringing the Lalu Prasad Yadav family’s alleged illegal dealings, including the high-profile Land-for-Job scam, to the courtroom.

Early Allegations and Motivation

On 4 April 2017, Sushil Modi held his first press conference accusing Tej Pratap Yadav of irregularities in a ‘soil scam.’ At the time, the Bihar government issued a clean chit, but this marked the beginning of Modi’s detailed investigation into the alleged illegal assets of the Lalu family. A veteran in both politics and anti-corruption activism, Modi had previously played a key role in exposing the fodder scam, which eventually led to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s conviction.

18 Years to Reach the Courtroom

The Land-for-Job case now involves several members of the Lalu family, including Lalu Yadav, Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Tej Pratap Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, and Hema Yadav. It has taken nearly 18 years for the case to reach the trial stage. Analysts note that without Sushil Modi’s persistent campaign with documented evidence, the matter might have remained buried in files.

Initially, Modi highlighted the case through press conferences and later published the book Lalu Leela, which was sent to the CBI, Income Tax Department, and Enforcement Directorate, demanding action against Lalu Yadav. The book contained comprehensive evidence related to the Land-for-Job scam.

Investigation and Charges

The CBI conducted coordinated raids on 15 locations linked to Lalu Yadav in May 2022 and subsequently registered a formal case. In October 2022, charges were filed against Lalu Yadav, Misa Bharti, and 16 others for allotting land in exchange for jobs. The final charge sheet, submitted in June 2024, named 78 individuals, including 38 beneficiaries of the scheme.

In 2026, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi framed charges against 41 individuals, including six members of the Lalu family, who are now set to face trial.

Historical Background

Allegations against Lalu Yadav for allotting land in exchange for jobs first surfaced in 2008. Leaders including Shivanand Tiwari and JDU’s Lalan Singh had submitted complaints with documents to then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. However, no action was taken at the time.

The turning point came on 4 April 2017, when Sushil Modi publicly accused the Lalu family of a soil scam linked to a mall under construction, alleging that the soil was sold to Patna’s Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park (Zoo). At that time, Tej Pratap Yadav, Lalu’s son, was the Minister for Environment and Forests. Modi alleged the scam amounted to ₹80 lakh in irregularities. While officials claimed proper departmental procedures had been followed and no scam had occurred, Modi pursued the matter further.

Within three months, he held 40 press conferences and revealed documents detailing the Lalu family’s alleged illegal assets, including evidence tied to the Land-for-Job case. Today, the case remains under judicial consideration.