New Delhi: The Delhi High Court is set to hear on Monday the petition filed by former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav challenging the lower court’s order framing charges against him and his family members in the IRCTC hotel scam case.
The matter is listed before Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma.
In his plea, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief contended that there is insufficient basis to proceed with charges related to corruption, criminal conspiracy, and cheating against the accused.
The criminal revision petition challenges the order of the Rouse Avenue Court that framed criminal charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav and other family members.
Earlier, on October 13, the Rouse Avenue Court had framed charges under IPC Sections 428, 120B, and the Prevention of Corruption Act Section 13(2) against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, and Tejashwi Yadav in this case.
According to a CBI press release, the case was registered on July 5, 2017. The investigating agency alleged that while serving as Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav colluded with Vijay Kochar, Vinay Kochar, owners of Sujata Hotel Private Limited (SHPL), and others to irregularly lease the IRCTC hotels located in Ranchi and Puri.
The agency further stated that Lalu misused his position and, with the collusion of several IRCTC officials, granted undue benefits to the Kochar brothers. In return, the Kochar brothers sold a valuable piece of land in Patna to a company linked to RJD Rajya Sabha member Premchand Gupta, a close associate of Lalu.
This land was purchased in the name of Delight Marketing Company Private Limited (DMCPPL), which was later renamed Lara Projects LLP. The company operated in the interests of the Lalu family, with control of the property eventually passing to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav.
After completing its probe, the CBI filed a charge sheet against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, Premchand Gupta, and ten other accused persons.
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