Latest news with #LaluPrasad
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
IRCTC hotel scam case: Delhi court defers decision on framing charges against Lalu Prasad
New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday deferred till August 5 the pronouncement of its decision on framing charges against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav, his family members and others accused in the IRCTC hotel scam case. The alleged scam took place between 2004 to 2009 when Lalu Prasad was the Union railway minister. During his tenure, two hotels were given on lease without following the norms. Special judge Vishal Gogne, who was slated to deliver the verdict on Wednesday, deferred the pronouncement till August 5. The Rouse Avenue Court had reserved its order on May 29 after hearing detailed arguments on framing of criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption charges against the accused persons. Besides, Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav, Prem Gupta, Sarla Gupta, Railway officials Rakesh Saksena and P.K. Goyal are also accused in this case. The case is related to the alleged irregularities in giving the contract of maintenance of two IRCTC hotels to a firm when Lalu Prasad Yadav was the Railway Minister. One of the hotels was allotted to Sarla Gupta, who is wife of Prem Gupta, a close friend of Lalu Prasad. He was also a Rajya Sabha MP at that time. As per the prosecution, the RJD leader got three acres of prime land through a benami company. Claiming that there were no irregularities on his part, Lalu Prasad said that the tenders were awarded fairly and sought a discharge. Last week, the Supreme Court refused to entertain Lalu Prasad's plea seeking a stay on the proceedings of the trial court in the land-for-job case. He had moved a special leave petition (SLP) before the top court challenging the Delhi High Court's rejection of his application to stay the trial proceedings. This came after the trial court took cognisance of the multiple charge sheets filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the Prevention of Corruption Act. As per the CBI, during the period 2004-2009, Lalu Prasad (then Railway Minister) had obtained pecuniary advantages in the form of transfer of landed property in the name of his family members in lieu of appointment of substitutes in Group 'D' posts in different Zones of the Railways. A number of residents of Patna themselves or through their family members sold and gifted their land in favour of the family members of Lalu Prasad and a private company controlled by him and his family.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
IRCTC case: Delhi court adjourns order on framing of charges against Lalu Prasad, relatives till August 5
A Delhi court on Wednesday (July 23, 2025) deferred till August 5 its order on framing of charges against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, their son Tejashwi Yadav and others in a case linked to alleged irregularities in the IRCTC. On May 29, the court reserved its order after the arguments were concluded on the aspect of charge. Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav have refuted corruption and other charges levelled against them by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case. The charges also include criminal conspiracy and cheating, and carry a maximum jail term of seven years. Also Read | Lalu Prasad family and CBI searches: all you need to know The three claimed before the court through their lawyer that the CBI lacked evidence to prosecute them. Prasad, who was the Railway Minister during the UPA-I government, earlier questioned the validity of sanctions obtained by the CBI to prosecute him. The agency told the court on February 28 that there was sufficient evidence to prosecute the accused persons. The case is linked to alleged irregularities in the grant of operational contracts of two Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotels to a private firm. IRCTC case: Delhi court grants bail to Lalu, wife Rabri and son Tejashwi According to the CBI charge sheet, a conspiracy was hatched between 2004 and 2014 in pursuance of which BNR hotels of the Indian Railways located in Puri and Ranchi were first transferred to the IRCTC. They were later leased to the Patna-based Sujata Hotels Private Limited for operations and maintenance. The tender process, the CBI alleged, was rigged and manipulated and the conditions were tweaked to help the private party — Sujata Hotels. The charge sheet also names former group general managers of IRCTC V.K. Asthana and R.K. Goyal and Vijay Kochhar and Vinay Kochhar, both directors of Sujata Hotels and owners of Chanakya Hotel. Delight Marketing Company, now known as Lara Projects, and Sujata Hotels have also been named as accused in the charge sheet.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
IRCTC case: Court defers order on charges against Lalu Prasad till Aug 5
A Delhi court on Wednesday deferred till August 5 its order on framing of charges against RJD president Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, their son Tejashwi Yadav and others in a case linked to alleged irregularities in the IRCTC. On May 29, the court reserved its order after the arguments were concluded on the aspect of charge. Prasad, Devi and Yadav have refuted corruption and other charges levelled against them by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case. The charges also include criminal conspiracy and cheating, and carry a maximum jail term of seven years. The three claimed before the court through their lawyer that the CBI lacked evidence to prosecute them. Prasad, who was the railway minister during the UPA-I government, earlier questioned the validity of sanctions obtained by the CBI to prosecute him. The agency told the court on February 28 that there was sufficient evidence to prosecute the accused persons. The case is linked to alleged irregularities in the grant of operational contracts of two Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotels to a private firm. According to the CBI charge sheet, a conspiracy was hatched between 2004 and 2014 in pursuance of which BNR hotels of the Indian Railways located in Puri and Ranchi were first transferred to the IRCTC. They were later leased to the Patna-based Sujata Hotels Private Limited for operations and maintenance. The tender process, the CBI alleged, was rigged and manipulated and the conditions were tweaked to help the private party -- Sujata Hotels. The charge sheet also names former group general managers of IRCTC V K Asthana and R K Goyal, and Vijay Kochhar and Vinay Kochhar, both directors of Sujata Hotels and owners of Chanakya Hotel. Delight Marketing Company, now known as Lara Projects, and Sujata Hotels have also been named as accused in the charge sheet.
Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Bihar bleeds again: ‘Jungle Raj' is not good for Nitish Kumar's political fortunes
Bihar is bleeding again. The slogan 'Bihar mein bahaar hai, Nitish Kumar hai' — once symbolic of hope and governance — now rings hollow with the recent uptick in crime. The streets of Patna — the very heart of the state's politics, education, and aspiration — echoed with gunshots yesterday, this time inside Paras hospital, one of the elite medical facilities in the state. This incident, among others, is not merely a lapse in law and order — it signals a deeper crisis: Resurgence of unchecked violence in a state still grappling with the shadows of its troubled past. The phrase 'Jungle Raj,' once synonymous with the collapse of governance during Lalu Prasad's regime, has returned to public discourse. Certainly, Bihar is no longer in the 1990s. Governance has become more institutionalised, policing more structured, and developmental indicators — from roads to electricity to school enrolment — have seen measurable improvement. Yet recent patterns — extortion threats, daylight murders, attacks on journalists, student clashes, and now a targeted firing at a hospital — suggest a deeply worrying slide. Patna, once seen as a hub for civil service aspirants and a growing middle-class economy, is fast turning into a battleground for political muscle-flexing. The latest shooting, the daylight murder of a businessman allegedly close to the BJP, along with violent clashes between student groups, and repeated threats to and assaults on journalists, reflects a growing disregard for the law. What has really changed since the 'Jungle Raj' days? No one can deny Nitish Kumar the credit for weakening the entrenched politician-criminal nexus, which curbed organised crime in Bihar. However, those hard-won gains now appear increasingly fragile. Nitish Kumar, who rose to power promising 'Sushasan' (good governance), now finds himself presiding over a state that appears to be veering back towards lawlessness. His frequent U-turns, health issues, and public goof-ups seem to have eroded his administrative authority and the trust his voters had in him. As the 2025 Assembly elections approach, the rising tide of crime presents a serious political challenge for the JD(U), the BJP and other NDA partners. Tejashwi Yadav is steadily reasserting himself, while Nitish Kumar's once-strong image as the 'Sushasan Babu' falters. The resurgence of lawlessness is blunting one of the NDA's most potent electoral weapons — the 'Jungle Raj' narrative against the RJD. As fear returns to the streets, the lines between the past and the present begin to blur, weakening the very contrast the NDA built its political appeal on. Unlike the rural, caste-driven violence of Bihar in the 1990s, today's crime is increasingly urban, calculated, and seems to be fuelled by rising poverty, unemployment, and social frustration. The government's response has been formulaic: Blame games, suspensions, and hollow assurances of 'strict action'. But law and order isn't just a police issue — it demands political will. If this continues, Nitish may lose public trust, especially women voters. His prohibition policy had earned him their goodwill, but growing insecurity may do the opposite. Another major constituency, the youth, who haven't much memory of Lalu's alleged 'Jungle Raj', are confronting a complex reality. Safety is not a luxury — it is a basic right. Rahul Gandhi has accused the state government of prioritising 'position over protection,' claiming that while Bihar burns, ministers chase commissions. Exaggerated, maybe, but it may strike a chord with a frustrated electorate. Still, it would be unfair to ignore certain facts. There have been swift arrests in some high-profile cases, along with an improvement in conviction rates in recent years. Nitish Kumar has also announced 125 units of free electricity to all houses. Welfare measures like job quotas for women and caste-survey-driven schemes have attempted to address deeper social inequities. But governance is more than mere policy declarations. Nevertheless, the current state of affairs cannot be laid solely at the feet of one political alliance or leader. Structural weaknesses — including rampant unemployment, under-policing, and a sluggish justice system — have festered across regimes. Bihar continues to have one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the country and one of the lowest per-capita incomes. The easy availability of illegal arms, systemic police vacancies, and over 3.7 million pending court cases only worsen the situation. Nitish Kumar, who has been at the helm eight times and ruled Bihar for over 18 years, often while shifting political allegiances between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan, must also share responsibility for these enduring systemic failures. And while the NDA government's failures rightly deserve scrutiny, the Opposition's attacks also warrant closer examination. Tejashwi Yadav's accusations of 'criminal disorder' ring hollow in light of the RJD's own legacy of law and order. Similarly, Rahul Gandhi's criticism of the BJP conveniently overlooks the Congress party's past indifference, particularly when it was allied with Lalu. The writer is a political commentator and teaches Political Science at DDU Gorakhpur University, Uttar Pradesh
News18
17-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Badalta Patna'? New Airport & Ganga Bridge After 7 Decades, But Crime Still Rules Headlines
Last Updated: The murder of businessman Gopal Khemka in the heart of Patna last week has brought back the focus on law and order in the city and whoever can assure that will win later this year It is surely a 'Badalta Hua Patna'—from a new swanky airport to India's longest cable-stayed bridge over the Ganga, and a fast-upcoming metro. These are changes in Patna that few had imagined even a decade ago. But as the recent murder of a businessman in the heart of Patna shows, some things may not have changed. Law and order are still the elephant in the room when it comes to the upcoming Bihar elections. A new airport terminal greets one now on landing in Patna. It is a far cry from the cramped and untidy airport that Patna had for years. The new terminal inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month is worth Rs 1,200 crore, boasts of modern aerobridges and modern passenger facilities and can cater to about one crore passengers a year. For an average Bihari, the airport is a pleasant surprise and a symbol of pride. 'Delhi wale se bhi achha hai na (this is better than the Delhi airport, right)," a Patna couple asks us. Our second stop was the new Ganga bridge that was inaugurated last month by CM Nitish Kumar. This is no ordinary bridge. Nearly 20 kilometres long and built at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore, it is India's longest cable-stayed bridge. The first six-km stretch which is operational now is the sole connectivity from Patna to Raghopur, the stronghold of the Lalu Prasad family. Former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav is the current MLA from Raghopur, and his parents Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi have represented the seat too in the assembly. But for over the last seven decades, one had to take a boat on the Ganga to reach Raghopur as there was no bridge over the river to reach the area. Tejashwi Yadav himself took the boat many a times to highlight the apathy being faced by locals. But the new bridge is now a reality, and locals see it as a big gift. Many throng here in the evening to take selfies. 'Roads and bridges have been made. But nothing else. Voting does not happen on issue of development, but caste. We will vote for RJD," two local youngsters on the bridge say. Metro and Flyovers The 'Ganga Kinare' ring road in Patna is a long drive besides the Ganga and gives one a glimpse over the various bridges made over the vast river. Inside the city also, a network of flyovers and a major hospital has emerged. The big highlight is the upcoming Metro and a six-km stretch is expected to be inaugurated by August 15 by the prime minister. Work is on at frantic pace in Patna to complete the metro stretch. But this means that internal roads in Patna are a mess—dug-up and incessant rains make them waterlogged. 'The main roads of Patna are smooth but go a bit inside and you will find the mess. Two days back, I fell with my scooty inside an open manhole on a water-logged road…of what use is such development?" a youngster having Bihar's famous litti-chokha on Budh road says. Another local says that while infrastructure has improved in Patna, things are pretty much the same in villages. 'Bihar is not just Patna. It is a very big state. If you go inside the villages, you will see the poor suffer," another local says. A group of elders in Patna, however, told CNN-NEWS18 that electricity and water has changed the fortune of rural Bihar. 'Ab toh hamare yahan gai bhi pankhe mein so rahi hai (even our cows are sleeping under a fan in villages)," a local elder told us. This group said Nitish Kumar remains a popular chief minister despite him changing political camps many a time. They point to the jungle-raj under the Lalu Prasad regime to say Bihar won't ever go back to the old ages. 'Saanp ka beta sapola hi hota hai," they said on the Lalu family. Murder in Patna The murder of businessman Gopal Khemka in the heart of Patna last week has, however, put the NDA on the back foot. The murder seems to have been orchestrated from inside Beur jail by a gangster, bringing Bihar's infamous jail-crime-supari (contract killing) nexus to the fore yet again. The opposition, RJD and Congress, are now targeting the NDA government over the failing law and order situation, even in a posh area of Patna. They are ironically asking if this is jungle-raj under Nitish Kumar and countering NDA's narrative. NDA ally Chirag Paswan also expressed his discomfort over the law-and-order situation. 'If a murder like this is happening in Patna, imagine what is happening in the villages. The way crime has increased in Bihar and the manner in which law and order has collapsed is concerning," Paswan said. The bottom line in Bihar is that it is a fight between two big alliances based on caste considerations and development is a strong narrative working for the NDA. But crime, law, and order remain the big elephant in the room. People want peace and security first. Whoever can assure that will win later this year. First Published: News elections 'Badalta Patna'? New Airport & Ganga Bridge After 7 Decades, But Crime Still Rules Headlines Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
