IRCTC scam: Delhi court to pronounce order on charges against Lalu, others on Oct 13; all accused summoned
NEW DELHI: The Rouse Avenue Court will pronounce its order on the framing of charges in the IRCTC hotel corruption case on October 13. The court has directed all accused persons, including former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav , former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav , to appear in person on the next date of hearing.
The case pertains to allegations of corruption in the allotment of maintenance contracts for IRCTC hotels during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009. It is alleged that two hotel maintenance contracts—BNR Ranchi and BNR Puri—were awarded to Sujata Hotels, a private firm owned by Vijay and Vinay Kochar, in exchange for a three-acre plot of prime land acquired through a benami company linked to Lalu.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne stated that the order on charge is in completion and will be pronounced on October 13. "All the accused persons are directed to appear in Person on the next date," the judge said.
The matter has been listed for October 13 for the pronouncement of the order on charges.
The CBI, which filed the FIR on July 7, 2017, also carried out raids at 12 locations linked to Lalu and his family across Patna, New Delhi, Ranchi, and Gurgaon. The agency has accused Lalu Prasad Yadav, his family members, and 11 others—14 accused in total—of criminal conspiracy and corruption.
The Special Public Prosecutor for the CBI, D P Singh, along with Advocate Manu Mishra, argued that there was corruption and conspiracy in awarding maintenance contracts to Sujata Hotels. "There is sufficient material to frame a charge against all accused persons," the CBI said.
On March 1, the CBI concluded its arguments on charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, former Union Minister Prem Chand Gupta, and others. The court reserved its order on May 29 after hearing day-to-day arguments from both the prosecution and defence.
On behalf of Lalu Prasad Yadav, Senior Advocate Maninder Singh submitted that there was no material to frame charges against the former minister and that he deserved to be discharged. He argued that the tenders were awarded fairly and that no irregularities could be attributed to Lalu.
The next hearing is scheduled for October 13, when the court will finally decide whether to frame charges against the accused or discharge them.
(With agency inputs)
The case pertains to allegations of corruption in the allotment of maintenance contracts for IRCTC hotels during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009. It is alleged that two hotel maintenance contracts—BNR Ranchi and BNR Puri—were awarded to Sujata Hotels, a private firm owned by Vijay and Vinay Kochar, in exchange for a three-acre plot of prime land acquired through a benami company linked to Lalu.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne stated that the order on charge is in completion and will be pronounced on October 13. "All the accused persons are directed to appear in Person on the next date," the judge said.
The matter has been listed for October 13 for the pronouncement of the order on charges.
The CBI, which filed the FIR on July 7, 2017, also carried out raids at 12 locations linked to Lalu and his family across Patna, New Delhi, Ranchi, and Gurgaon. The agency has accused Lalu Prasad Yadav, his family members, and 11 others—14 accused in total—of criminal conspiracy and corruption.
The Special Public Prosecutor for the CBI, D P Singh, along with Advocate Manu Mishra, argued that there was corruption and conspiracy in awarding maintenance contracts to Sujata Hotels. "There is sufficient material to frame a charge against all accused persons," the CBI said.
On March 1, the CBI concluded its arguments on charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, former Union Minister Prem Chand Gupta, and others. The court reserved its order on May 29 after hearing day-to-day arguments from both the prosecution and defence.
On behalf of Lalu Prasad Yadav, Senior Advocate Maninder Singh submitted that there was no material to frame charges against the former minister and that he deserved to be discharged. He argued that the tenders were awarded fairly and that no irregularities could be attributed to Lalu.
The next hearing is scheduled for October 13, when the court will finally decide whether to frame charges against the accused or discharge them.
(With agency inputs)
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