The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in a case related to the IRCTC Scam, has filed charge sheet against the former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejaswi Yadav and 11 others in connection with the IRCTC Scam.
The agency had questioned the former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Yadav last year by the agency in connection with the case. Recently, Rabri Devi’s statement was also recorded by the crime investigation agency in connection with the case.
CBI grilled Bihar’s former Deputy Chief Minister, Tejaswi Yadav who was charge-sheeted for the first time by the agency.
CBI interrogated Bihar’s former Deputy Chief Minister, Tejaswi Yadav who was charge-sheeted for the first time by the agency.
Out of the total 14 people who were named in the charge sheet, eight were named initially, and six were added later by the agency.
Sarla Gupta (wife of Prem Gupta), Vinay and Vijay Kochchar (owner of Hotel Chankaya), PK Goel, then IRCTC managing director PK Goel, Prem Gupta (close aide of Lalu Yadav), Rakesh Saxena, then director of IRCTC , BK Aggarwal, present additional member Railway Board (the then group general manager IRCTC) have been charge-sheeted by the CBI.
IRCTC was created by railways in the year 1999. In the year 2001, it was finalized that management of catering services including hotel properties will be given to IRCTC.
A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed, wherein the management of two hotels, one located in Ranchi and the other in Puri was handed over to IRCTC corporation. This MoU was signed in the year March 2004.
Lalu was sworn in as Railway Minister in the year May 2004. CBI had put up the allegation that once Lalu Yadav took charge of the office, he entered into a criminal conspiracy with Kochars, Sarita Gupta.
On February 25, 2005, the Kochars sold commercial property with the measurement as 3 acres to Delight Marketing for Rs 1.47 crore.
The director of Delight Marketing was Sarla Gupta at that time, the wife of Prem C Gupta.
CBI claimed Sarla Gupta is a benami holder for former CM Lalu Prasad Yadav. The Rs 1.47 crore deal was allegedly much below then prevailing circle rate and market rate. Also, the commercial plot was called as agricultural land to evade stamp duty.
CBI further put up the allegation that Bikramjeet Singh Ahluwalia promoter of Ahluwalia Contracts bought shares of a shell company, Delight Marketing Private Limited, and this is how it was possible for Delight Marketing purchased the land.
The further deeper investigation revealed that the day Kochars sold the land to Delight Marketing (February 2, 2005), the Railway Board informed IRCTC that BNR Hotels are being transferred to IRCTC.
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