Fresh strings of CBI raids are being conducted at 12 locations, including Delhi, Patna, Ranchi, Puri and Gurgaon at the premises of former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav‘s family members.
Few members of Yadav’s family along with him are charged with a new case by the CBI, regarding the irregularities in sanctioning the tender for maintenance of hotels. The FIR lists irregularities in the tender for development, maintenance and operation of BNR Hotels in Ranchi and Puri, sanctioned to the private Sujata Hotels in 2006.
The BNR Hotels are heritage hotels of the Railways which were taken over by the IRCTC from the public transporter earlier in the same year.
The case has been registered against Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and his son Tejashwi, the then IRCTC MD, P K Goyal, Lalu’s acquaintance and former Union corporate affairs minister, Prem Chand Gupta and his wife Sarla and others.
The raids conducted come ahead of the mega rally being organised by Lalu Prasad Yadav along with other opposition parties on 27 Aug. These raids and fresh case charged by CBI may be a tactful political move by the BJP to divert Lalu from the rally.