Lalu Prasad Yadav is one of India's most controversial politicians—a champion of social justice to his supporters and a symbol of corruption and misgovernance to his critics.
His family has faced numerous corruption charges, with properties worth hundreds of crores allegedly acquired through illegal means. Despite multiple convictions totaling over 27 years of jail sentences across five fodder scam cases, his political influence in Bihar remains significant through his family members who continue to hold prominent positions in state politics.
Basic Information
- Born: June 11, 1948, Phulwaria village, Gopalganj district, Bihar
- Political Party: Founder and President of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)
- Key Positions: Chief Minister of Bihar (1990-1997), Union Minister of Railways (2004-2009)
Family Details
Spouse: Rabri Devi (married in 1973 at the age of 14 years in a child marriage) - served as Chief Minister of Bihar for 3 terms. She has studied only up to the fifth standard. As of 2024, she has assets over ₹17 crore.
Children (9 total - 7 daughters, 2 sons):
Daughters:
- Misa Bharti (b. 1976)- Member of Parliament with assets over ₹9 crore (as of 2024), has a MBBS degree but never practiced as a doctor
- Rohini Acharya - Studied Medicine (MBBS). Donated her kidney to her father in 2022.
- Chanda Singh
- Ragini Yadav - Married to Rahul Yadav, a Samajwadi Party leader from Noida
- Hema Yadav
- Anushka Rao (Dhannu) - Married to Chiranjeev Rao, son of Ajay Singh Yadav (Congress politician)
- Rajlaxmi Singh Yadav - Married to Tej Pratap Singh Yadav (RJD politician)
Sons:
- Tej Pratap Yadav (b. 1988) - Former Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister of Bihar. He has studied till the 12th grade & has declared assets of over ₹2 crores. Lalu Yadav expelled him from his family and the party in 2025.
- Tejashwi Yadav (b. 1989) - Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, prominent RJD leader. He did not complete his Class 10 and discontinued his studies to pursue sports. He declared assets of ₹5 Crore in 2020.
Lalu's wife, Rabri Devi has 2 brothers Subhash Prasad Yadav and Prabhunath Yadav and 4 sisters Jalebi, Rasgulla and Paan.
Lalu's brother-in-law, Anirudh Prasad Yadav, better known as Sadhu Yadav was a MP, MLA, MLC as a RJD candidate. He has been accused of multiple serious crimes.
His other brother-in-law, Subhash Chandra Yadav was a clerk in the Patna secretariat. When his sister Rabri Devi became the chief minister of Bihar, he quit his job and joined RJD. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Rajya Sabha in 2004. He got arrested in 2024 for involvement in an illegal sand mining and money laundering case.
Political Career Highlights
Rise to Power
- Started as student leader at Patna University (General Secretary 1970-71, President 1973-74)
- Elected to Lok Sabha in 1977 at age 29, one of the youngest MPs
- Became Chief Minister of Bihar in 1990
- Arrested L.K. Advani during Ram Rath Yatra in September 1990
- Formed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in 1997 after breaking from Janata Dal
Railway Ministry (2004-2009)
- Appointed Railway Minister in UPA-I government
- Initially claimed record profits and turnaround of Indian Railways
- Invited to speak at Harvard, Wharton, and other Ivy League schools about railway management
- Controversy: 2011 CAG report revealed the "surplus" was due to different accounting methods, and railway performance actually declined during his tenure
Political Decline
- Lost power in Bihar in 2005 to Nitish Kumar
- Made brief comeback in 2015 Bihar elections (RJD won 81 seats)
- Alliance with Nitish Kumar broke in July 2017 after corruption charges against son Tejashwi
Corruption Cases and Convictions
Fodder Scam (Main Conviction)
The largest corruption scandal involving fraudulent withdrawal of ₹450 crore (₹4.5 billion) from Bihar's animal husbandry department between 1990-1995.
Five Separate Cases:
-
First Case (Chaibasa Treasury) - Convicted September 30, 2013
- Fraudulent withdrawal of ₹37 crores
- Sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and ₹25 lakh fine
- Released on bail after 2.5 months
- Disqualified from Parliament for 6 years
-
Second Case (Deoghar Treasury) - Convicted December 23, 2017
- Fraudulent withdrawal of ₹89.27 lakh
- Sentenced to 3.5 years imprisonment and ₹10 lakh fine
-
Third Case (Chaibasa) - Details of fraudulent withdrawal of ₹356.2 million
-
Fourth Case (Dumka Treasury) - Convicted for withdrawal of ₹3.13 crore
- Two separate sentences of 7 years each under IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act
-
Fifth Case (Doranda Treasury) - Convicted February 15, 2022
- Illegal withdrawal of ₹139.35 crore
- Sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and ₹60 lakh fine
Status: Released on bail April 17, 2021. Barred from contesting elections for 6 years after conviction.
2005 Indian Railway Tender Scam (Land-for-Jobs Scam)
Nature: Bribery case where Lalu and family allegedly received prime properties as bribes for awarding railway tenders during his tenure as Railway Minister.
Accused Family Members: Lalu Prasad, wife Rabri Devi, sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap Yadav, daughter Misa Bharti
Properties Involved:
- Saguna Mor Mall property worth ₹45 crore transferred through shell company "Delight Marketing" (renamed Lara Properties) to Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Tejashwi, and Tej Pratap
- Properties worth ₹40 crore transferred through shell company "AB Exports" for only ₹4 lakh to Tejashwi, Ragini, and Chanda
Status: Under investigation by CBI and Enforcement Directorate. Properties attached in September 2017.
Disproportionate Assets Case
- Filed by ED against Lalu, Rabri Devi, and children
- Misa Bharti charged on December 23, 2017 (same day as Lalu's second fodder scam conviction)
- Summons issued to Misa for Benami land deals worth ₹1,000 crore (₹10 billion)
- More than 12 properties attached in Patna and Delhi including mall plot, Delhi farmhouse, and land in Palam Vihar
2017 Patna Zoo Soil Scam
Allegation: Selling soil from Tej Pratap's mall basement construction to Patna Zoo under bogus ₹90 lakh beautification scheme without tenders when Tej Pratap was Environment Minister.
Status: PIL filed in Patna High Court. Bihar government stated no prima facie evidence of irregularity found.
Disproportionate Assets Case (1998)
- Registered against Lalu and Rabri Devi arising from fodder scam
- Both surrendered in April 2000; Rabri got bail as CM, Lalu jailed for 11 days
- Both acquitted in 2006
Political Style and Controversies
Social Justice Politics
- Positioned himself as "Messiah of Backwards" representing OBCs, Dalits, and Muslims
- Successfully mobilized lower castes against upper-caste dominance
- Controversial slogan "Bhurabal saaf karo" (remove upper castes) reportedly used during his tenure
- Weakened upper-caste dominated bureaucracy to empower OBCs
- Appointed numerous OBC officials to powerful positions like District Magistrate
Patronage of Criminal Elements
Accused of patronizing "Bahubalis" (criminals with money and muscle power) including:
- Pappu Yadav (Purnea/Madhepura)
- Mohammad Shahabuddin (Siwan)
- Vinod Yadav (Bhagalpur)
- Surendra Yadav (Gaya)
Law and Order Issues
- Bihar's law and order reached lowest point during his tenure
- Rise in kidnappings and private armies
- Tacit support allegedly extended to Maoist Communist Centre (MCC)
- Multiple caste-based massacres during his and wife's rule
The term 'Jungle Raj' generally describes the period from 1990 to 2005 under Lalu's rule, characterized by widespread lawlessness, rampant crime, and chronic failures in governance.
Administrative Breakdown
- Frequent transfers of bureaucrats
- Interference by party activists in bureaucracy and police
- Kept many posts vacant to prevent upper castes from occupying them
- Left physical infrastructure undeveloped, believing it benefited upper castes
Legacy and Impact
Positive Aspects (According to Supporters)
- Gave "ijjat" (honor) to backward castes and Dalits
- Ended patron-client relationships in elections
- Shifted polling stations from upper-caste to lower-caste villages
- Empowered marginalized communities politically
- Stopped L.K. Advani's Rath Yatra, gaining Muslim support
Negative Aspects (According to Critics)
- "Yadavisation" of Bihar politics accused of benefiting one caste
- Development stagnation in Bihar
- Corruption became endemic
- Administrative collapse
- Nepotism with wife Rabri Devi succeeding him as CM (1997-2005)
Current Status
- Granted bail on April 17, 2021
- Disqualified from holding office under Section 8(3) of Representation of People Act until 6 years after release
- Still influential leader of RJD
- Family members continue active role in Bihar politics