The Delhi High Court has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation for its response. This comes after a petition from Rabri Devi, the former Bihar chief minister and wife of RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav. She is challenging the framing of charges in the alleged IRCTC hotel case.
Court Issues Notice and Sets Hearing Date
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court issued a notice on Rabri Devi's petition. The court listed the matter for hearing on January 19. On that same date, similar petitions from her husband Lalu Prasad and their son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav will also come up for consideration.
Background of the IRCTC Hotel Case
The case originates from October 13 of last year. On that date, a trial court framed charges against Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, and eleven other individuals. The charges include cheating, criminal conspiracy, and corruption under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
These allegations are connected to the leasing of two railway hotels. The hotels were leased to a private company based in Patna.
Rabri Devi's Arguments in Her Petition
In her legal plea, Rabri Devi contends that the trial court made an error. She argues the court wrongly presumed her involvement in the alleged conspiracy. She states there is no material evidence to suggest her participation.
"Neither accused no-1 Lalu Prasad nor his family members, including the petitioner (Rabri), was ever involved in the tender process for the erstwhile Bengal Nagpur Railways' (BNR) hotels located in Ranchi and Puri," the petition reads.
It further adds, "It is admitted fact by the prosecution that Lalu (her husband) never issued any instruction either oral or document during the tender process for the BNR hotels at Ranchi and Puri."
CBI's Allegations in the Charge-sheet
The Central Bureau of Investigation has laid out specific claims in its charge-sheet. The agency alleges a criminal conspiracy took place between 2004 and 2014. During this period, the BNR hotels of the Indian Railways in Ranchi and Puri were first transferred to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). They were then leased out to Sujata Hotels Pvt Ltd, a Patna-based company, for operations, maintenance, and upkeep.
According to the CBI's FIR, Lalu Prasad, while serving as the railway minister, entered into this criminal conspiracy. The conspiracy allegedly involved the owner of Sujata Hotels, IRCTC officials, and Sarla Gupta, the wife of Rajya Sabha member Prem Chand Gupta. The aim was to secure undue financial advantage for himself and others.
The CBI further claims the BNR hotels were handed over to Sujata Hotels through a process described as "rigged and manipulated." The agency states this tender process was managed by P K Goyal, who was the managing director of IRCTC at the time.
