A Delhi court on Monday has framed criminal charges against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and son Tejashwi Yadav in a corruption case related to Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotel contracts.
The special court at Rouse Avenue Courts has charged Lalu Yadav with corruption, criminal conspiracy, and cheating. His wife and son face charges including conspiracy and cheating. All accused pleaded not guilty and have sought a trial, moving the case to its next stage.
The case, investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), centres on allegations from Lalu Yadav’s tenure as railway minister between 2004 and 2009. The agency alleges that during this period, the operation of two IRCTC hotels, located in Ranchi and Puri, was leased to a private company, Sujata Hotels, through a manipulated tender process.
The CBI claims that in return for this favour, prime land worth crores of rupees was transferred to a company linked to Lalu Yadav’s family at a significantly lower price than its market value.
The Yadav family has consistently denied any wrongdoing. They have questioned the evidence against them and maintain that the case is politically motivated.
The framing of charges is a significant step in the Indian legal process, indicating the judge has found sufficient initial evidence to proceed with a full trial. The court will now hear arguments from both the prosecution and the defence. |
