NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 03, 2026 : A Delhi court on Saturday deferred the formal framing of money-laundering charges against former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and six others in the Enforcement Directorate’s case concerning the alleged IRCTC hotel tender case.
Special Judge Prashant Kumar adjourned the proceedings to October 30, 2026, directing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to seek instructions in light of an order passed by the predecessor court.
Seven Accused Discharged
The ED had originally named 16 accused in the case. On September 10, the predecessor court discharged seven accused and directed that charges be formally framed against the remaining nine.
The case was consequently listed for October 3 for the formal framing of charges, but the proceedings have now been postponed to October 30.
The predecessor court had earlier observed that there was a strong suspicion against the accused at the stage of framing charges. It also rejected the defence argument that the ED’s complaint was motivated by political vendetta, stating that the nature, timing and course of the investigation did not indicate such motivation.
What Is the Alleged IRCTC Hotel Scam?
The ED case relates to the period 2005–2014, when Lalu Prasad Yadav was Union Railway Minister.
According to the ED’s allegations, the tender process for operating two IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri was manipulated to favour Sujata Hotels.
The agency alleges that the alleged favour was followed by a transaction involving valuable land in Patna.
According to the prosecution case, Sujata Hotels directors Vinay Kochhar and Vijay Kochhar transferred prime Patna land to Delight Marketing Company Pvt. Ltd. (DMCPL) at allegedly undervalued rates.
DMCPL was controlled by Prem Chand Gupta and his wife Sarla Gupta, who the ED has described as close associates of Lalu Prasad.
The ED further alleges that shares in DMCPL were subsequently transferred to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav at substantially undervalued prices. The company was later renamed Lara Projects.
These are allegations made by the investigating agency and remain subject to judicial proceedings.
Separate CBI Corruption Case
The matter is also connected to a separate CBI corruption case concerning the alleged irregularities.
In that case, charges of corruption were framed against Lalu Prasad Yadav and 11 others in October 2025, according to the information provided in the court proceedings.
The ED’s case concerns alleged money laundering, while the CBI case relates to the underlying alleged corruption and tender irregularities.
Next Hearing
The Delhi court has now fixed October 30, 2026, for further proceedings concerning the formal framing of charges.
Key points:
- Court: Delhi court
- Judge: Special Judge Prashant Kumar
- Next date: October 30, 2026
- Original accused: 16
- Discharged: 7
- Facing formal charge proceedings: 9
- Case: Alleged IRCTC hotel tender/money-laundering case
- Period under investigation: 2005–2014
