Big decision on Lalu family to be taken on March 3, what did the court say today in IRCTC money laundering case?

Lalu Prasad Yadav News: The coming days could be very challenging on the legal front for the family of former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav. Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday reserved its decision on framing of charges against Lalu Prasad, Tejashwi Yadav and other family members in the much talked about IRCTC money laundering case.

The special judge reserved this decision after a long hearing of the case. There are speculations that the court will deliver its verdict on March 3 on whether there are sufficient grounds to prosecute the accused. Apart from Lalu Prasad, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has accused many others including former Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, former CM Rabri Devi, MP Misa Bharti, Hema Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav in the case.

Case Timeline

The matter is almost two decades old. Then Lalu Prasad Yadav was the Railway Minister in the UPA-1 government (2004-2009).

Allegation of conspiracy: According to the investigating agencies, Lalu Yadav, while being the Railway Minister, had given the contract for the maintenance of two IRCTC hotels (Ranchi and Puri) to the private company Sujata Hotels.

unfair advantage : In return, the owners of Sujata Hotels had allegedly transferred a valuable piece of land in Patna to a shell company of the Lalu family at a throwaway price.

Characters: In this, the role of RJD MP Premchand Gupta and his wife Sarla Gupta (owner of Sujata Hotels) was also found suspicious.

What has happened till now?

2017: CBI registered FIR on corruption charges. After that ED started investigating money laundering.

2018-19: ED attached assets worth crores of Lalu family and filed a charge sheet.

2023-24 : A round of interrogation took place in the case and now the court is on the verge of framing charges.

Also read: There will be daily hearing in the Land for Job case, the court said this regarding Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav.

What will happen if charges are framed?

If the court orders framing of charges on March 3, then Lalu family will have to face a regular trial, which can create a stir in the politics of Bihar. At present, all eyes are on the next order of the Rouse Avenue Court.