Delhi High Court Requests CBI Response in Lalu Prasad Yadav's Corruption Case

High Court Hearing on Lalu Prasad Yadav's Plea

On Monday, the Delhi High Court called for a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding a plea submitted by Lalu Prasad Yadav, the leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal. This plea challenges a trial court's decision to frame criminal charges against him and his family in connection with alleged corruption involving the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation.

In October, Lalu Prasad Yadav, along with his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav, faced charges of corruption, criminal conspiracy, and cheating. The case moved forward to trial after they all pleaded not guilty.

Seeking to halt the trial court's proceedings, Lalu Prasad Yadav approached the Delhi High Court. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma indicated she would review the plea and set the next hearing for January 14.

The judge opted not to stay the trial, stating that such an order could not be made without first hearing the CBI's perspective on the matter.

The IRCTC case involves alleged misconduct related to a tender awarded to Sujata Hotels for the development and management of two railway hotels in Ranchi and Puri back in 2005, during Lalu Prasad Yadav's tenure as Union Railways Minister.

It is alleged that in exchange for the tender, Lalu Prasad Yadav received a three-acre plot valued at Rs 45 crore through a benami company owned by his wife, Rabri Devi. The term 'benami' refers to transactions conducted under someone else's name, obscuring the true ownership.

The CBI claims that this plot was inaccurately recorded as agricultural land, leading to significant tax losses for the state.

Following Lalu Prasad Yadav's departure from office in 2009, shares of the benami company were reportedly transferred to Tejashwi Yadav and Rabri Devi between 2010 and 2014, according to the agency.

The investigation by the CBI commenced in July 2017, culminating in a chargesheet filed against Lalu Prasad Yadav, his family, and 11 others in April 2018.

While Tejashwi Yadav and Rabri Devi were granted bail in October 2018, Lalu Prasad Yadav received bail in January 2019.

In October, Special Judge Vishal Gogne, while framing charges, noted that Lalu Prasad Yadav had attempted to influence the hotel development process.

The trial court remarked that the transactions might exemplify crony capitalism disguised as an effort to encourage private investment in railway hotels in Ranchi and Puri.