Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Delhi Court Frames PMLA Charges in IRCTC Hotel Case
A Delhi court has ordered money-laundering charges in a case involving two railway hotels.
The people charged include Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and six others.
Investigators say the hotel contracts may have been given to Sujata Hotels through an unfair tender process.
They allege that land in Patna and company shares were transferred at very low prices in return.
The court said the Patna land could be proceeds of crime.
At this stage, the court only needed to find strong suspicion, not prove guilt.
The judge rejected the argument that the investigation was started because of political revenge.
Seven of the 16 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 IRCTC hotel tenders in Ranchi and Puri during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as railway minister.
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 said it was allegedly enjoyed by the Lalu family.
Seven of the 16 accused were discharged, and the case was listed for formal charges on October 3.
- Who
- Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and six other accused, including companies and business associates.
- What
- A Delhi court ordered framing of money-laundering charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in the alleged IRCTC hotel tender case.
- When
- The order was issued on Thursday; the alleged transactions span 2005 to 2014, and the case is listed for October 3.
- Where
- The proceedings are before the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi and concern railway hotels in Ranchi and Puri and land in Patna.
- Why
- The Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation allege that hotel tenders were manipulated in exchange for Patna land and company shares transferred at undervalued prices.
Court and Investigators
Accused and Defense Arguments
Whether the investigation was politically motivated
Court and Investigators
The court said the nature, timing and course of the investigation did not indicate political vendetta.
Accused and Defense Arguments
Counsel for Lalu Prasad Yadav argued that the investigation and charge sheet were politically motivated.
Whether the evidence supports charges
Court and Investigators
The ED and CBI cited alleged tender manipulation, land transfers, company incorporation and changes in shareholding as grounds for strong suspicion.
Accused and Defense Arguments
The accused argued that the charge sheet lacked sufficient evidence; the court said guilt had not yet been decided and only strong suspicion was required at this stage.
Whether the land constituted proceeds of crime
Court and Investigators
The court described the Patna land as proceeds of crime allegedly created through abuse of office and enjoyed by the Lalu family.
Accused and Defense Arguments
The accused disputed the allegations and the sufficiency of the evidence linking the land transfers to the hotel contracts.
- Court
- Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi
- Judge
- Special Judge Vishal Gogne
- Accused charged
- Nine of 16 accused
- 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
