NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Thursday ordered the framing of charges against former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and others in the alleged IRCTC hotels money laundering case, observing that there was a strong suspicion of abuse of office during his tenure.The court said railway officials manipulated the tender process under Prasad’s stewardship to facilitate the award of leases for IRCTC-run hotels in Ranchi and Pune. It also said the nature, timing and course of the investigation in the case were not inspired by political vendetta, reported PTI.
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The court also ordered framing of charges against former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, her son Tejashwi Yadav, Lara Projects, Sujata Hotels and four others. The charges include corruption, criminal conspiracy and cheating against Lalu Prasad, while Rabri Devi and Tejashwi face conspiracy and cheating charges.The case stems from alleged irregularities in the award of contracts to operate two IRCTC hotels. The CBI has alleged that the tender process was manipulated and conditions were tweaked to favour Sujata Hotels during Lalu Prasad’s tenure as railway minister. The ED has alleged that the transactions were part of a larger money-laundering conspiracy.The accused have pleaded not guilty and the case will now proceed to trial. The framing of charges and the court’s observations at this stage do not amount to a finding of guilt.