Delhi court defers ruling on charges against Lalu, kin in IRCTC case

A Delhi court on Wednesday postponed its decision on framing charges against RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, their son Tejashwi Yadav and others in connection with the alleged IRCTC scam. The order is now expected on August 5.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities and corruption in the award of contracts for two hotels in Puri and Ranchi between 2004 and 2014.

According to the CBI chargesheet, these hotels were initially under the Indian Railways and were handed over to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). They were subsequently leased out to Patna-based Sujata Hotels Pvt Ltd under a “manipulated” and “flawed” tender process.

Earlier on May 29, the court had reserved its decision after hearing arguments on whether there was enough evidence to proceed with a trial.

The CBI has informed the court that it had gathered adequate material to proceed against all accused.

Meanwhile, Lalu, Rabri and Tejashwi, through their counsel, told the court that the CBI had failed to present sufficient evidence to justify their prosecution.

The former railways minister has also raised questions about the validity of the sanction obtained by the CBI to prosecute him, challenging the procedural integrity of the case.

Apart from Lalu and his family, the chargesheet also names senior Railways officials, VK Asthana and RK Goyal, both of whom are former Group General Managers at the IRCTC, and Vijay Kochhar and Vinay Kochhar, Sujata Hotels directors and Hotel Chanakya owners. Delight Marketing Company, now operating as Lara Projects, along with Sujata Hotels, have also been named as the corporate accused in the case.