Delhi Court Delays Decision on Charges Against Lalu Prasad Yadav in IRCTC Scam
Court Postpones Ruling on Lalu Prasad Yadav's Case
File image of RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav(Photo: X)
New Delhi, May 22: A court in Delhi has postponed the announcement regarding the framing of charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, the chief of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), along with his family members and others involved in a money laundering case tied to the IRCTC hotel scam. The decision is now set to be revealed on June 9.
The Rouse Avenue Court was anticipated to issue its ruling on Thursday but has now delayed it until next month.
This case, being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), pertains to the alleged laundering of funds linked to the IRCTC hotel scam, which was initially registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The ED claims that there were irregularities in the contracts awarded for the management of IRCTC hotels during Yadav's time as Union Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009.
Prosecutors allege that contracts for hotel maintenance were improperly awarded to a private firm associated with close allies of Yadav.
Additionally, it is claimed that in exchange for these contracts, three acres of valuable land were acquired through a proxy company connected to Yadav's family and associates.
The individuals charged in this case include Lalu Prasad Yadav, his spouse Rabri Devi, their sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, among others.
Previously, the Special Judge had reserved the ruling on the charges after listening to extensive arguments from both the defense and the ED.
Moreover, the Delhi High Court is currently reviewing criminal revision petitions filed by Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, and Tejashwi Yadav, which challenge the trial court's order to frame charges against them in connection with the same alleged scam.
In October of the previous year, the Rouse Avenue Court had already framed charges against the accused for offenses related to cheating, criminal conspiracy, and corruption under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act, after they pleaded not guilty.
Lalu Prasad Yadav has repeatedly denied the allegations, asserting that the tenders for the IRCTC hotels were awarded in a fair and transparent manner.