IRCTC Hotels Case: Delhi Court Defers Framing of Charges Against Lalu Prasad, Others
Court postpones proceedings until November 19 after the prosecution raises no objection to adjournment in the alleged railway hotel contract-for-land case.
NEW DELHI, Oct 30: A Delhi court on Friday postponed the formal framing of money laundering charges against former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Yadav and other accused in the alleged IRCTC hotels scam case to November 19.
Special Judge Prashant Kumar deferred the proceedings after the prosecution did not oppose the requests for adjournment.
The court directed all accused to remain present on the next date of hearing, except those granted exemption under orders of a superior court or covered by a stay order.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had named 16 people in its money laundering complaint. On September 10, the predecessor court discharged seven accused and ordered the framing of charges against the remaining nine.
While passing the order, the court observed that there was strong suspicion against the accused. It also rejected the defence argument that the investigation was driven by political vendetta against Lalu Prasad, stating that the nature, timing and course of the probe did not support such a claim.
The case stems from alleged irregularities in the allocation of railway hotel contracts during Lalu Prasad’s tenure as Railway Minister between 2005 and 2014.
The ED has alleged that railway officials manipulated the tender process to award the operation and maintenance contracts of two hotels in Ranchi and Puri to Sujata Hotels.
According to the agency, the company’s directors, Vinay Kochhar and Vijay Kochhar, allegedly transferred a prime parcel of land in Patna to a company named Delight Marketing Company Private Limited (DMCPL) as a quid pro quo for securing the hotel contracts.
The company was allegedly controlled by Prem Chand Gupta and his wife Sarla Gupta, who were considered close associates of Lalu Prasad.
The ED further alleged that Sarla Gupta and others subsequently transferred the company’s shares to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav at substantially undervalued prices. The company, which later became Lara Projects LLP, thereby came to control the prime Patna property.
Separately, in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case linked to the alleged scam, a court framed corruption charges against Lalu Prasad and 11 others in October last year.
The allegations relate to the alleged misuse of public office and manipulation of railway hotel contracts in exchange for land benefits. The accused have faced proceedings in separate corruption and money laundering cases arising from the same set of transactions.
The matter will now come up before the Delhi court on November 19 for further proceedings.
