IRCTC scam: CBI moves Delhi HC against Tejashwi Yadav

Special Judge Geetanjali Goel issued notice to Tajaswi Yadav on the CBI's plea and sought his response in the matter

The CBI on Saturday moved a court here seeking cancellation of bail granted to Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) scam.

Special Judge Geetanjali Goel issued a notice to Yadav on the application moved by the probe agency and sought his reply by September 28.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said Yadav, in a recent press conference, attempted to subvert the process of law and thwart the entire investigation as well as the consequent trial, and “blatantly abused the liberty granted to him”.

“The tone and tenor is condemnable, intimidating and unfortunate, to say the least… That the said statements are not concerned to one case alone, but form a part of the larger design of the accused. The said statements are not only scandalous, but are also a clear attempt to prevent the trial from reaching its logical conclusion,” the agency said in its application.

It added that through his statements in the conference, while Yadav issued “direct threat to CBI officers and their families”, he also issued “indirect threat to witnesses”.

“The accused has openly warned the CBI officers against carrying out the investigations, also resorting to innuendoes and threats in the process… Through such statements, the accused had indirectly and automatically threatened and attempted to influence the witnesses of the case,” it said.

The agency also said the Bihar minister attempted to “portray the CBI in bad light and under the influence of political parties” by using innuendoes such as 'jamai' of a political party against it.

The application further added that Yadav also undermined “the authority of the court” through his statements used in the conference.

“Through such statements, the accused undermines the process of law, the investigation and the consequential trial and is as such an attempt to interfere with the administration of justice,” it added.

The CBI said Yadav, being the son of former chief ministers of Bihar and himself the deputy CM, “is highly influential and powerful” and that his “scandalous statements” demonstrate his attempt to yield undue influence and power to prevent the case from reaching its logical conclusion.

“The accused is no common man and exercises control and influence over a large number of people, all of whom are directly and indirectly affected and impacted by the implications of such scandalous statements,” it said.

The court had in October 2018 granted bail to Yadav after he appeared before it in pursuance to summons issued against him in the matter related to alleged irregularities in granting the operational contract of two IRCTC hotels to a private firm.