New Delhi: Troubles are mounting again for former Bihar Chief Minister and former Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family in the IRCTC money laundering case. Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has named nine entities including RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Rabri Devi, Sarla Gupta, Lara Projects, and Sujata Hotels as accused in the case. Additionally, the court has ordered the framing of charges against P.C. Gupta, Vijay Kochar, and Vinay Kochar.
The Rouse Avenue Court has scheduled the next hearing for October 3. Furthermore, the court has discharged seven individuals from the charges in this case. The court observed that the land transferred in Patna constitutes proceeds of crime. The court has also directed the accused to appear before it. Proceedings against Lalu Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Rabri Devi, and the other accused will continue.
Court Raises Questions Regarding Lalu Yadav’s Role
While framing charges, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court remarked that the manner in which Lara Projects benefited casts suspicion on Lalu Yadav’s role. The court further stated that railway officials manipulated the tender process for awarding leases in Ranchi and Pune at the behest of Lalu Yadav.
The court also observed that, prima facie, it does not appear that the investigation against Lalu Yadav was politically motivated. According to the court, the facts that have emerged and the circumstances surrounding the transactions necessitate further proceedings on the charges.
Court Drops Charges Against Seven Individuals
The Rouse Avenue Court has discharged seven accused individuals in the IRCTC money laundering case. Those discharged include Gaurav Gupta, Nath Mal Kakrania, Rahul Yadav, Vijay Tripathi, Devki Nandan Tulsyan, Rajiv Kumar Relan, and M/s Abhishek Finance Private Limited.
During the proceedings, the court reiterated that the land transferred in Patna constitutes proceeds of crime and directed the accused to appear before the court. The hearing in the case against Lalu Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Rabri Devi, and other accused persons is set to continue. The court has scheduled the hearing for October 3, 2026.
CBI had previously framed charges
It is worth noting that last year, the court framed charges against Lalu Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, his son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, and 11 others in the CBI case related to the alleged IRCTC scam. The charges include fraud, criminal conspiracy, and offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The case dates back to the time when Lalu Yadav was the Railway Minister, involving alleged irregularities in the awarding of operational contracts for two Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotels to a private firm.
