Lalu Prasad skips CBI questioning in IRCTC case, seeks two week time

Earlier on Sept 22, the CBI had summoned RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Sept 25 and his son Tejashwi Yadav on Sept 26

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad's lawyer on Monday sought two-week time from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for former Railway minister to appear before it in connection with the railway hotel tender case.

Earlier on September 22, the CBI had summoned Lalu on September 25 and his son Tejashwi Yadav on September 26.

In July, CBI had registered a case against the then railway minister Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, his son Tejashwi Yadav, Sarla Gupta, wife of Prem Chand Gupta, Vijay Kochar and Vinay Kochar, both directors of Messer's Sujata Hotel Private Limited, Messer's Delight Marketing Private Limited, P K Goel, the then managing directors, IRCTC and unknown others under Section 120 B read with Section 420 of IPC and Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)d prevention of corruption act 1988 in connection with the case.

The FIR lodged by the CBI against RJD chief stated that there were irregularities in awarding the tender for development, maintenance and operation of BNR Hotels in Ranchi and Puri during Lalu Prasad's term as Railway Minister of India, that is, from 2004 to 2009.

The CBI alleged that the tender process was rigged, manipulated and the conditions were tweaked by the then Railway minister to help a private hotel company.

The RJD, however, brushed aside the allegation and counter-blamed that the agencies were acting as alliance partners of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).