CBI issues fresh summons to Lalu Prasad Yadav, son Tejashwi in railways hotel scam

The bureau has issued fresh summons for questioning in connection with a graft case relating to the irregular award of maintenance contracts of two railways hotels to a private firm.
Lalu Prasad Yadav with son Tejaswi Yadav (File photo by PTI)
Lalu Prasad Yadav with son Tejaswi Yadav (File photo by PTI)

NEW DELHI: Days after the father-son duo failed to appear before it, the CBI has issued fresh summons to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi for questioning in connection with a graft case relating to the irregular award of maintenance contracts of two railways hotels to a private firm.

While Lalu has been asked to appear before the agency headquarters here on September 25, Tejashwi has been summoned to present himself on the next day, agency sources said.

Lalu was earlier summoned for his presence on September 11 and Tejashwi was required to appear on September12. However, Lalu did not turn up citing an ongoing court case in Ranchi where his presence was required. Tejashwi excused himself from appearance on the last date claiming preoccupation with political commitments.

According to the CBI FIR, Yadav as railway minister during the UPA-I era had allegedly awarded the maintenance contract of two Railways hotels-- BNR Ranchi and BNR Puri-- to Sujata Hotel after receiving a bribe in the form of three acres of prime plot of land in Patna through a benami company. The contract was given to the private firm owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar who are also named accused in the case. 

In its FIR, the CBI has alleged that Yadav during his tenure as railway minister abused his official position for extending undue favours to Kochhars and acquired the "high-value premium land" through a benami company Delight Marketing Pvt Ltd.

According to the FIR, the contract was allegedly awarded by Yadav in a “dishonest and fraudulent” manner to the Sujata Hotels as a quid pro quo for the land deal at Patna.

Besides Kochhars, Tejashwi and Lalu, his wife Rabri and wife of former Union Minister Prem Chand Gupta, Sarla have also been named in the CBI case.

The accused persons have been booked for criminal conspiracy and corruption.

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