The political storm over the IRCTC scam case has intensified once again. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday moved the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi seeking cancellation of bail granted to Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav.
Along with Tejaswi, former Chief Ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi are also among the 11 accused in the case. However, both Lalu and Rabri have already been granted bail by the court
.
CBI Moves to Cancel Tejaswi’s Bail
The CBI filed a plea to revoke Tejaswi Yadav’s bail, alleging that he threatened certain CBI officials. Special Judge Gitanjali Goel has issued a notice to Tejaswi, asking him to respond to the allegations. The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for September 28.
Tejaswi’s August Statement Sparks Controversy
The controversy stems from Tejaswi Yadav’s press conference on August 25, where he made remarks perceived as threatening towards the investigating officers. He had said:
> “Don’t CBI officers have mothers, sisters, and children? Don’t they have families? Will they remain CBI officers forever? Won’t they retire someday? You should perform your constitutional duty with honesty.”
Following this statement, the CBI accused him of intimidating its officers. Responding to the recent move, Tejaswi alleged, “A month ago, Amit Shah had threatened that they would not let me contest the next election. Now their intentions are becoming clear.”
What Is the IRCTC Scam?
The case dates back to 2004–2009, when Lalu Prasad Yadav served as India’s Railway Minister. It is alleged that during his tenure, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) awarded the management contracts for two hotels in Ranchi and Puri to a private firm, Sujata Hotels, in violation of norms.
Sujata Hotels, owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar, allegedly transferred three acres of land in Patna to Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family as a benami transaction in exchange for the hotel contracts.
The CBI registered an FIR in 2017 for criminal conspiracy, bribery, and corruption, while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a money laundering charge sheet in 2018.
ED Filed Charge Sheet Against 16 Accused
In August 2018, the ED submitted a charge sheet in Delhi’s Patiala House Court against 16 individuals, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejaswi Yadav, P.C. Gupta, and Sarla Gupta, alleging irregularities in awarding IRCTC hotel contracts.
Political Reactions
Tejaswi Yadav called the case a politically motivated move to silence opposition voices.
> “This is not about justice—it’s about political vendetta,” he said.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders have defended the investigation, stating that “no one is above the law and the judiciary will act independently.”
Author: BiharlocalDesk
ASAIN TIMES NEWS NETWORK
