Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 13: In a major setback to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, a Delhi court on Monday framed charges against party founder Lalu Prasad Yadav, his son and Bihar Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi in a corruption case.
The charges relate to alleged irregularities in the allotment of IRCTC hotel maintenance contracts during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009. The CBI alleges that contracts for BNR Ranchi and BNR Puri hotels were awarded to Sujata Hotel in exchange for three acres of prime land through a benami company.
The accused pleaded not guilty, with Rabri Devi calling the case “wrong.” The Rouse Avenue court framed charges under sections dealing with cheating, criminal conspiracy, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, noting that “probable fraud must be tried as cheating” and highlighting a monetary loss to the exchequer.
The court observed that preliminary findings suggest Lalu Yadav conspired with others, abusing his position to influence tender awards in return for undervalued land acquisition.
The ruling is expected to intensify political attacks on the RJD over corruption as the Bihar polls approach.