Lalu, Rabri, Tejashwi get ED chargesheet

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday filed its first chargesheet against RJD chief Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and others in connection with the IRCTC hotels allotment money laundering case, officials said. The agency has also named Prasad’s son and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, his party colleague PC Gupta and his wife Sarla Gupta, a firm Lara Projects and 10 others in the prosecution complaint (chargesheet) filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before a special court here.

The agency said that Prasad and IRCTC officials allegedly misused their position for granting sub-lease of the rights of two railway hotels at Puri and Ranchi to Sujata Hotel Pvt Ltd owned by the Kochhars. In lieu of the hotels’ sub-lease, 358 decimal of prime plot of

land in Patna was transferred to Delight Marketing Company Pvt Ltd, a firm owned by the family of P C Gupta who is a close associate of Prasad and an MP from RJD, in February 2005 at a rate which was much

less than the then prevailing circle rates.

“The said company possessing valuable chunk of

land gradually got transferred

to Rabri Devi and her son Tejashwi by way of share purchase at nominal prices. The funds used to acquire the land had dubious origin and had been laundered through 151 group of companies belonging to P C Gupta by using an NBFC named Ms Abhishek Finance Company Limited,” the agency charged. Subsequently, the shares of Delight Marketing Company Private Limited were acquired by Rabri Devi and Tejashwi at less than fair market value.