New Delhi, May 22: A Delhi court has postponed its decision regarding the charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, his family members, and other accused in the alleged IRCTC hotel scam related to money laundering. The ruling will now be delivered on June 9. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating this case.
The Rouse Avenue Court has rescheduled the date for the verdict to June 9. The ED’s case pertains to concealing the proceeds of crime linked to the alleged IRCTC hotel scam, which was initially registered by the CBI.
According to the investigating agency, irregularities occurred in awarding contracts for the operation of IRCTC hotels during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009.
The prosecution claims that the maintenance contracts for the hotels were awarded to a private company without following the prescribed rules, which allegedly had ties to close associates of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader.
Additionally, it is alleged that in exchange, approximately three acres of valuable land were acquired through a shell company, reportedly connected to Lalu Yadav’s family and associates.
The accused include Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, sons Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav, daughters Misa Bharti and Hema Yadav, among others.
Previously, after detailed arguments from the lawyers of the accused and the ED, the special judge had reserved the decision on framing charges.
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court is also hearing criminal revision petitions filed by Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, and Tejashwi Yadav. These petitions challenge the trial court’s order that directed the framing of charges against them in the corruption case linked to the same scam.
In October of last year, the Rouse Avenue Court had framed charges against the accused under the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act for fraud, criminal conspiracy, and corruption. The accused have pleaded not guilty.
Lalu Yadav has consistently denied the allegations, asserting that the tenders for the IRCTC hotels were awarded in a fair and transparent manner.
Leave a Comment