IRCTC scam: CBI asks Lalu to appear on Oct 3

26 September,New Delhi

The CBI on Tuesday issued a fresh summon to RJD chief and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad to appear before it for questioning in the IRCTC hotel scam on October 3, while his son Tejashwi Yadav has been asked to come on October 4.

Prasad and his son were scheduled to appear before the investigating agency yesterday but their lawyer had asked two weeks more time, the CBI sources said here.

The national investigating agency had earlier summoned the father-son duo on September 7, to appear before it for questioning on September 11 and 12.

Prasad had then said that since he has to appear before a Ranchi court in connection with the Fodder Scam, he is not able to comply with the CBI orders, while  Tejashwi had said that he has to finish some party-related work. On September 22, the CBI issued fresh summons to the RJD chief and his son to appear before the agency on September 25 and 26.

According to the FIR filed by CBI on July 5,  Prasad had allegedly granted illegal favours to one Sujata Hotel through an IRCTC contract, leading to manipulation of the tender process for the development, maintenance and operation of two hotels at Ranchi and Puri, in exchange for a three-acre plot in Patna.

The case was filed against Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and Tejashwi, former deputy chief minister of Bihar, for alleged irregularities, when  Prasad was the Railway Minister from 2004 to 2009.The CBI had also named RJD MP Prem Chand Gupta in the FIR, alleging that the kickbacks were paid through a ‘benami’ company owned by Sarla Gupta, wife of  Gupta.