Delhi High Court seeks ED response on Lalu Prasad Yadav's IRCTC plea

The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding a petition filed by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. Yadav is challenging a trial court order that directed the framing of money laundering charges against him in connection with an alleged IRCTC hotel scam.

The case involves allegations of irregularities in awarding hotel maintenance contracts during Yadav’s tenure as Union Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009. The ED alleges that contracts were awarded to a private company linked to Yadav’s associates without following prescribed norms, and in exchange, prime land was allegedly acquired through a benami company linked to his family.

In his petition, Yadav argues that the trial court's order is unsustainable, noting that he was never summoned by the ED for investigation and was not involved in any activities connected to the alleged proceeds of crime. The trial court had previously framed charges against Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and his son Tejashwi Yadav, among others. The High Court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on December 3.