A Delhi court has formally framed charges under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, along with criminal conspiracy and cheating, against former Union Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and son Tejashwi Yadav in the alleged IRCTC hotels corruption case.

Judge Vishal Gogne of Rouse Avenue Court noted that prima facie evidence suggests that during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister, he manipulated tender conditions and conspired with co-accused to benefit a private firm, Sujata Hotels, by awarding contracts for two IRCTC-owned hotels in Ranchi and Puri. Further, undervalued land parcels were allegedly transferred to entities linked to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav.

In court, all accused pleaded not guilty, and the judge ordered the case to proceed to trial.  The decision to frame charges comes at a politically sensitive time, ahead of the looming Bihar Assembly elections.