New Delhi: A Delhi Special Court on Monday granted regular bail to former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) case filed by Directorate of Enforcement under the provisions of Money Laundering Act.
CBI Special Judge Arun Bhardwaj on December, 20 granted interim bail to Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) scam case and further extended the interim bail till January 28.
CBI has registered a case in July last year against Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi and Sarla Gupta wife of Former Union Minister Prem Chand Gupta, Vijay and Vinay Kochhar both Directors of Sujata Hotels and owner of Chanakya Hotel, Delight Marketing Company now known as Lara Projects and the then IRCTC Managing Director P K Goel.
It was alleged that Rashtriya Janta Dal Leader had abused his official position for extending undue favours to the Kochhar.
CBI has filed a chargesheet on April16, 2018 by submitting before the court that there were sufficient evidence against Lalu, Rabri, Tejashwi and other s accused persons in the case related to alleged irregularities in granting operational contract of two IRCTC hotels to a private firm.
It was alleged that Lalu Prasad Yadav when he was Railway Minister handed over the maintenance of two hotels run by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) a subsidiary of the Indian Railways in Ranchi and Puri to Sujata Hotel a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar in return for a prime plot of three acres in Patna through a benami company Delight Marketing Company. When the tender was awarded to Sujata Hotel the ownership of Delight Marketing Company changed hands from Sarla Gupta to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav between 2010 and 2014.
Accused persons has filed their bail application before the court through his counsel while CBI and ED opposed the bail plea before the court by submitting that he is an influential person and could hamper the investigation if granted bail.
CBI Special Judge Arun Bhardwaj today after hearing arguments on behalf of Government Counsel and Defence Counsel granted the bail to accused Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashvi Yadav and others accused persons with the condition to furnishing the bail bond of Rs. one lacs with each surety and adjourned the matter for further hearing on February 11.(UNI)