6 hrs ago
Delhi Court Frames PMLA Charges Against Lalu Yadav Family
A Delhi court has formally ordered charges in a case involving railway hotels.
The people charged include Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and six others.
Investigators say hotel contracts were unfairly given to a private company.
They allege that land in Patna and company shares were transferred to people connected to Lalu’s family in return.
The court called the Patna land proceeds of crime.
The judge said there was enough suspicion for the case to continue, but this does not prove anyone is guilty.
The judge also rejected the argument that the case was started because of political revenge.
Seven other accused were discharged from the case.
A Delhi court ordered money-laundering charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and six others.
The case concerns alleged manipulation of tenders for IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri.
Investigators allege Sujata Hotels received the contracts in exchange for Patna land and company shares transferred at undervalued prices.
The court described the Patna land as proceeds of crime and rejected claims that the investigation was politically motivated.
Seven of the 16 accused were discharged, while the case was listed for formal charges on October 3.
- Who
- Former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and six other accused, including company directors and entities.
- What
- A Delhi court ordered framing of money-laundering charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in the alleged IRCTC hotel tender case.
- Where
- The proceedings are before the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi and concern railway hotels in Ranchi and Puri and land in Patna.
- When
- The order was issued on Thursday; the alleged tender arrangements date to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as railway minister from 2004 to 2009. The matter is listed for October 3.
- Why
- The Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation allege that hotel tenders were manipulated in exchange for land and company shares transferred at undervalued prices.
Court and Investigators
Accused and Defense Arguments
Whether the case is politically motivated
Court and Investigators
The court said the nature, timing and course of the investigation did not indicate political vendetta and found strong suspicion based on witnesses and documents.
Accused and Defense Arguments
Counsel for the accused argued that the investigation and charge sheet were politically motivated and lacked sufficient evidence.
Whether the tender and land transfers show a crime
Court and Investigators
The Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation allege that railway hotel tenders were manipulated for Sujata Hotels in exchange for Patna land and company shares benefiting entities linked to the Yadav family.
Accused and Defense Arguments
The accused contested the sufficiency of the allegations and evidence; the court has only ordered charges at a preliminary stage, not established guilt.
Key facts
- Court
- Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi
- Judge
- Special Judge Vishal Gogne
- Accused charged
- Nine accused, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and related companies
- Hotels involved
- IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri
- Private company
- Sujata Hotels Pvt. Ltd.
- Alleged proceeds of crime
- Prime land in Patna, allegedly transferred at undervalued rates
- Discharged accused
- Gaurav Gupta, Nath Mal Kankarnia, Rahul Yadav, Vijay Tripathi, Deoki Nandan Tulshyan, Rajiv Kumar Relan and Abhishek Finance Private Limited
Quotes
Special Judge Vishal Gogne
Judge who directed that charges be framed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act
“Some dubious deals are indeed cut in plain sight, with the public glare serving to camouflage rather to pry. The court would mindfully observe that the Special courts for CBI and PMLA matters, especially for MP/MLA cases, exist precisely to detect such masked and circuitous deals which strike Faustian bargains to trade public trust and assets for personal gain.”
rediff.com
indianexpress.com
“Nine accused are being charged; seven are discharged. It is directed that a charge be framed against the accused under section 3 (offence of money laundering) read with section 4 (punishment for money laundering) of the PMLA,”
rediff.com
Rabindranath Tagore
Bengali poet and author whose words were quoted by Special Judge Vishal Gogne
“Whenever power removes all checks from its path to make its career easy, it triumphantly rides into its ultimate crash of death. Its moral brake becomes slacker every day without its knowing it, and its slippery path of ease becomes its path of doom.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
Related news
Delhi Court Orders PMLA Charges in IRCTC Hotel Case
Delhi court delays charges in Lalu land-for-job cases
Mumbai PMLA Court Issues Process Against Six in Money-Laundering Case
Six Arrested in Alleged Delhi Jal Board Tender Irregularities
ED Raids Former Baghel Aides in Chhattisgarh PSC Probe
ED Seeks Kerala FIR in CMRL Bribery Case Against Vijayan
Railways Plans RailMadad Revamp for Faster Passenger Complaint Resolution
Indian Railways Adds Ganapati Special Trains Across Konkan Route
Five Indian Monopoly Stocks With Strong Moats and Pricing Power
