The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notice on a plea by former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav challenging the framing of money-laundering charges against him in the case connected to the alleged IRCTC scam. Justice Sachin Datta sought the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) response and listed the matter for December 3, Live Law reported.
Source: Live Law
The court also allowed Yadav to take an adjournment before the trial court until the next date of hearing before the High Court. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for Yadav.
The plea challenges an earlier development: on September 10, the trial court framed charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against nine persons, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi and his son Tejashwi Yadav, while seven others were discharged, Live Law reported.
Source: India Legal Live
The allegations, as recorded by the trial court, are that when Lalu Prasad Yadav was Union Railways Minister, a tender was manipulated by railway officials for the award of leases of IRCTC hotels at Ranchi and Puri, and that the hotel companies' directors transferred land in Patna through an associate, Sarla Gupta, who then transferred shares to Rabri Devi at a very low price. The trial court had spoken of a strong suspicion of abuse of office and proceeds of crime. These remain allegations that are yet to be proved at trial.
Separately, in the CBI's corruption case over the same alleged scam, the trial court had in October last year framed charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy, along with offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, against the Yadavs and others.
The ED will file its response to Yadav's plea, and the High Court will hear the matter on December 3. The PMLA charges were framed in September; Thursday's step is Yadav's challenge to that order, not a verdict on the allegations.