NEW DELHI: The Rouse Avenue court in Delhi on Monday framed charges against former railway minister Lalu Prasad, his wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, their son and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and several others in the IRCTC hotels corruption case. The court has framed charges under different sections. However, all the accused are charged with criminal conspiracy. Lalu Prasad Yadav pleaded not guilty, and he says he will face the trial.Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav also pleaded not guilty.Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts passed the order.The case involves alleged irregularities in the allotment of maintenance contracts for two IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri.The court noted that prima facie, Lalu was involved in the modification of tenders and directed that charges be formally framed against the Yadav family members and other accused.The allegations relate to the allotment of maintenance work contracts for BNR Ranchi and BNR Puri hotels during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as railway minister between 2004 and 2009. According to the CBI, the contracts were allegedly awarded to Sujata Hotel, owned by Vijay and Vinay Kochar, in return for which Lalu received three acres of prime land through a benami company.The CBI had filed an FIR on July 7, 2017, and conducted raids at 12 locations linked to Lalu and his family members in Patna, New Delhi, Ranchi, and Gurgaon. Arguments in the case concluded on March 1, 2025, and the court had reserved its order on May 29.Special Public Prosecutor D P Singh and advocate Manu Mishra, representing the CBI, argued that there was sufficient material to frame charges of corruption and conspiracy against all accused. On the other hand, senior advocate Maninder Singh, counsel for Lalu Prasad Yadav, contended that there were no irregularities in the tender process and that his client deserved discharge from the case.(With agency inputs)
