CBI summons Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi for probe

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday issued fresh summons to RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi Yadav in connection with the alleged corruption case where maintenance contracts of two IRCTC hotels were given to a private firm.

A senior CBI officer said, "Lalu, a former railway minister, has been asked to appear on September 25, and Tejashwi the next day."

Earlier, they had been called on September 11 and 12 but did not turn up, citing an ongoing court case in Ranchi where Lalu said he needed to be present, while Tejashwi claimed he had political commitments to take care of.

The agency had booked Lalu and his family members in July and carried out raids at multiple places. The CBI alleged that Lalu, as railway minister, handed over maintenance of two hotels run by IRCTC, a subsidiary of the Indian Railways, in Ranchi and Puri, to Sujata Hotel, a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar, in return for a plot of three acres in Patna.

The FIR alleged that Lalu abused his official position to extend undue favours to the Kochhars, acquired a "high value premium land" through a benami firm, Delight Marketing Company, and as a quid pro quo, "dishonestly and fraudulently" managed award of leasing of the two hotels.

The CBI has registered the case against Lalu, his wife Rabri Devi, a former Bihar chief minister, son Tejashwi, who was deputy CM until a few months ago, and Sarla Gupta, wife of Prem Chand Gupta, a former Union minister.