By: The Trek News Desk
In a major development in the long-running IRCTC scam case, a Delhi court on Monday formally framed charges of corruption, criminal conspiracy, and cheating against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife and former Bihar CM Rabri Devi, and their son Tejashwi Yadav. The move clears the way for a full-fledged trial in the high-profile case.
What Are the Allegations?
The case dates back to Lalu Yadav’s tenure as Union Railway Minister (2004–2009), during which two IRCTC hotels, one in Ranchi and another in Puri, were allegedly leased out to a private company, Sujata Hotels, via a manipulated and non-transparent tender process.
In return, CBI alleges, parcels of prime land worth crores were transferred at throwaway prices to a company reportedly linked to Lalu’s wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav.
Presiding over the case, Special CBI Judge Vishal Gogne at Rouse Avenue Court observed that there is prima facie evidence that Lalu Yadav was not only aware of the deal but also actively intervened in the decision-making process.
Court’s Strong Observations
In a detailed order, Judge Gogne noted:
“Deliberate alterations were made in the tender process. It appears that land parcels were undervalued at the time of transfer and eventually landed in entities under the influence or control of Lalu Yadav.”
The court further remarked that the state exchequer suffered significant losses due to these actions. It likened the entire affair to “crony capitalism under the disguise of encouraging private participation.”
“This was not a one-off conspiracy, but possibly a network of interconnected corrupt acts,” the judge added.
Defence Says: Politically Motivated Case
All the accused, including Lalu, Rabri, and Tejashwi, have pleaded not guilty and denied all allegations. Their legal team has argued that the case is politically driven and lacks solid evidence to warrant a trial.
Despite the objections, the court ruled that the evidence currently on record is sufficient to proceed with the trial.
What’s Next?
With charges formally framed, the case now moves into the trial phase. The court will begin hearing witnesses and examining evidence in the coming weeks. The outcome could have serious legal and political implications, especially with Bihar’s political landscape heating up ahead of elections.
Legal Teams in Court
Representing the prosecution, the CBI was led by Special Public Prosecutor DP Singh, along with advocates Manu Mishra, Imaan Khera, and Garima Saxena.
On the defence side, senior advocate Maninder Singh appeared for the Yadav family, joined by a team including Varun Jain, Navin Kumar, Sanjana Nair, and others.
Source: News Agencies
