New Delhi, October 13: A Delhi court on Monday framed charges against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members in the IRCTC hotel scam case, paving the way for a trial under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne reserved the order on 29 May after hearing detailed arguments on allegations of criminal conspiracy, cheating, and corruption involving Lalu Prasad, his son Tejashwi Yadav, Prem Gupta, Sarla Gupta, and Railway officials Rakesh Saksena and P.K. Goyal. All accused had pleaded not guilty.
The case relates to alleged irregularities in awarding contracts for the maintenance of two IRCTC hotels between 2004 and 2009, during Lalu Prasad’s tenure as Union Railway Minister. One of the hotels was leased to Sarla Gupta, wife of Prem Gupta, a close associate of Lalu Prasad and then Rajya Sabha MP. According to the prosecution, Lalu Prasad obtained three acres of prime land through a benami company in exchange for appointments in Group ‘D’ posts across various railway zones.
Lalu Prasad has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the tenders were awarded fairly, and sought a discharge from the case. Earlier, the Supreme Court declined to entertain his plea for a stay on the trial proceedings in the related land-for-job case, following the rejection of his application by the Delhi High Court.
The trial will now proceed following the court’s decision to frame charges based on multiple CBI charge sheets filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act, which allege that Lalu Prasad and his family acquired pecuniary benefits through land transfers linked to appointments in the Railways.
