ED TO CALL 2 FORMER IRCTC OFFICIAL OVER HOTELS ALLOTMENT GRAFT CASE

The ED, which is investing the railway hotels allotment corruption case, is preparing to examine two former senior officials of the IRCTC as part of its money laundering probe into the scam. The agency, sources said, will soon issue summons to them.

Sources in the agency said, “Investigation by the Central probe agency has revealed that two former senior officials of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) played crucial role in awarding tenders for development, maintenance and operation of Railway hotels at Ranchi and Puri to a private firm when RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was the railway minister. They will soon be called for questioning”. Mr Yadav was the railway minister in 2006. The ED has already booked the then managing director of IRCTC P.K. Goel as accused in the case.

The ED recently issued fresh summons to RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi and his former deputy CM son Tejashwi Yadav to appear before it for questioning in connection with the case. While ED has summoned Tejashwi on October 31, Rabri Devi has been asked to come on November 7.

Sources said the ED is investigating the alleged “proceeds of crime” generated by the accused in the case. The ED registered a money laundering case against Lalu Prasad and his family members in connection with the case.