CBI raids Lalu's premises, registers case
The FIR relates to allegations of irregularities in the tender for development, maintenance and operation of hotels in Ranchi and Puri, say sources.
The CBI has registered a case against Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejaswi and some others on the charge of corruption in awarding contracts for maintenance of hotels.
Sarla Gupta, wife of Mr. Prasad's associate Prem Chand Gupta (Rajya Sabha member); Vijay Kochhar and Vinay Kochhar, who were directors of Sujata Hotels Pvt. Limited; Delight Marketing and former IRCTC managing director P.K. Goel have also been named in the FIR.
The CBI is conducting searches at over a dozen locations in Delhi, Gurugram, Patna, Ranchi and Puri.
The CBI has alleged corruption in the award of a tender for development, maintenance and operation of BNR Heritage Hotels in Ranchi and Puri to Sujata Hotels in 2006.
The accused have been booked under IPC sections 420 and 120-B read with 13 (2) with 13 1d of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The CBI claims that a conspiracy was hatched between 2004 and 2014, as per which BNR Hotels in Puri and Ranchi were transferred to IRCTC, and for their management, a tender was later floated. It is alleged that the conditions of the tender were tweaked to ensure that it went to the Patna based Sujata Hotels.
In lieu of the alleged favour, three acres in Patna were given to Delight Marketing, purportedly a front company linked to Mr. Prasad, at just Rs.1.47 crore, against the circle rate of Rs.1.9 crore.
The land, then worth Rs. 32 crore as per circle rate, and of Rs. 94 crore in market value, was transferred to LaRa Projects, in which Mr. Tejaswi allegedly has interests, for about Rs. 65 lakh through transfer of shares.
The CBI has registered the case on the basis of a complaint about a month ago. Ten plots are under investigation.
The CBI move comes weeks after the Income Tax Department carried out searches against Mr. Prasad, his family members and associates, and attached several properties under the newly enacted anti-benami assets law.
The Enforcement Directorate, which has powers to register money laundering cases based on CBI FIRs, is currently probing the assets of some close relatives of Mr. Prasad in connection with alleged use of shell companies to launder funds.
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