Delhi court defers framing of money laundering charges against Lalu Yadav

A Delhi court on Saturday, 3 October, adjourned the formal framing of money laundering charges against former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Yadav, and six others in the Enforcement Directorate's case concerning the alleged IRCTC hotel scam. Special Judge Prashant Kumar deferred the proceedings to 30 October and asked the ED to seek instructions based on the predecessor court's order.

Of the 16 accused named by the ED, the predecessor court on 10 September discharged seven and ordered charges against nine. The court had earlier ruled that there was strong suspicion against the accused and that the investigation was not motivated by political vendetta, as Lalu Prasad's counsel had argued. Corruption charges were already framed against the RJD patriarch and 11 others in October 2025 in the related CBI case.

According to the ED, between 2005 and 2014, while Lalu Prasad was railways minister, a tender for running IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri was manipulated to favour Sujata Hotels. In return, the directors of Sujata Hotels allegedly transferred prime Patna land at undervalued rates to a company controlled by close associates of Lalu Prasad. The shares were later transferred to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav at a nominal price, with the entity renamed Lara Projects.