Insaaf Times Desk
Just ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has framed charges of corruption, criminal conspiracy, and fraud against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, and a total of 14 accused in the IRCTC hotel scam. A trial will now proceed against the accused.
According to the CBI, the case relates to the period between 2004 and 2009, when Lalu Prasad Yadav served as the Union Railway Minister. It is alleged that during this time, the maintenance contracts of two IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri were illegally awarded to a private company. In return, a valuable piece of land in Patna linked to the Yadav family was transferred at a significantly low price.
The court asked the accused whether they admitted to the charges. Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, and Tejashwi Yadav denied the charges but stated that they would face the trial. Lalu Prasad Yadav appeared in court on a wheelchair, accompanied by Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav.
The court observed that the scam was orchestrated with Lalu Yadav’s knowledge, and all accused were part of a broader conspiracy. Preliminary investigations indicate that at this stage, there is no clear evidence of quid pro quo.
This decision is seen as politically significant, as it comes just before the Bihar Assembly elections. The trial will continue, and the accused will have to appear in court for further proceedings.
