Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Delhi Court Orders PMLA Charges in IRCTC Hotel Case
A Delhi court allowed a money-laundering case involving Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family to move forward.
The case is connected to contracts for running two railway hotels.
Investigators say the contracts may have been changed to favor Sujata Hotels.
They allege that land in Patna was then transferred through companies linked to people close to Lalu.
The Enforcement Directorate says the land became connected to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav.
The judge said the court only needed to see a strong suspicion at this early stage.
This does not mean that the accused have been found guilty.
Lalu and his family deny wrongdoing and say the hotel tenders were fair and transparent.
Reports disagree about how many people were charged, although the detailed order cited by several reports says nine were charged and seven were discharged.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne ordered money-laundering charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and six others.
The detailed order reported in multiple accounts says nine of 16 accused were charged and seven were discharged; one report reversed those figures.
The Enforcement Directorate alleges that hotel contracts in Ranchi and Puri were manipulated in exchange for undervalued Patna land transfers.
The court said strong suspicion, rather than proof of criminal intent, was required at the charge-framing stage.
The court rejected claims of political vendetta and scheduled formal framing of charges for October 3.
- Who
- Former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and other accused persons; the Enforcement Directorate is prosecuting the money-laundering case.
- What
- The Rouse Avenue Court ordered framing of charges under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in the alleged IRCTC hotel case.
- When
- Thursday, September 10; formal framing of charges was scheduled for October 3.
- Where
- The Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi.
- Why
- The Enforcement Directorate alleges that hotel contracts were irregularly awarded and that related Patna land transactions represented proceeds of crime.
Prosecution and Court
Accused and Defence
Basis for proceeding
Prosecution and Court
The court said witnesses and documents created a strong suspicion and that proving criminal intent was not required at the charge-framing stage.
Accused and Defence
Defence lawyers argued that the charge sheet lacked sufficient evidence and claimed the case was motivated by political vendetta.
Hotel contracts
Prosecution and Court
The Enforcement Directorate and CBI allege that contracts for the Ranchi and Puri hotels were manipulated or awarded without prescribed procedures to Sujata Hotels.
Accused and Defence
Lalu Prasad Yadav has denied wrongdoing and maintained that the hotel tenders were awarded fairly and transparently.
Patna land transaction
Prosecution and Court
The prosecution alleges that prime Patna land was transferred at undervalued rates through companies associated with Lalu’s close associates and later connected to his family.
Accused and Defence
The accused dispute the allegations; Tejashwi Yadav said the family would present its case in court. The charge order does not determine guilt.
- Court
- Rouse Avenue Court, New Delhi
- Judge
- Special Judge Vishal Gogne
- Charged
- Nine of 16 accused, according to the detailed order reported by multiple sources
- Discharged
- Seven accused, according to the detailed order; one report gave the figures in reverse
- Legal provision
- Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act
- Alleged contracts
- Maintenance or operation contracts for IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri
- Next hearing
- October 3
- Related case
- The court had previously framed corruption-related charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav and 11 others in the CBI case
Sources
IRCTC hotels money laundering case: Delhi court orders framing of charges against Lalu, 8 others
Court Orders Charges Against Lalu Yadav, Wife And Son In Railway Hotel Scam
Delhi Court Orders PMLA Charges Against Lalu, Rabri, Tejashwi
Delhi court frames charges against Lalu Yadav, family in IRCTC money laundering case
