The case pertains to allegations that Lalu Prasad, as railway minister, handed over the maintenance of two hotels run by the IRCTC, a subsidiary of the Indian Railways, in Ranchi and Puri to Sujata Hotels, a company owned by Vinay and Vijay Kochhar, in return for a prime plot of three acres in Patna through a benami company.
The Central Bureau of Investigation, which had on April 16 filed the chargesheet in the case, had said that there was enough evidence against the accused.
Special Judge Arun Bharadwaj granted relief to Prasad after he was produced before the court through video conference from a Ranchi jail, where he is lodged in another case, as he was unable to come due to health reasons.
The agency is probing members of the Lalu Prasad family and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
RJD leaders attacked PM Modi and CM Nitish Kumar, alleging that it was a malicious exercise.
The RJD chief has been asked to appear for questioning at the agency headquarters on September 11.
They had earlier been called on September 11 and 12 but Lalu did not turn up, citing an ongoing court case in Ranchi where his presence was required, while Tejashwi claimed he had political commitments to take care of.
Lalu said the Centre was trying to 'frame' him and his family in 'false cases' out of political vendetta.
The case relates to alleged money laundering in granting the operational contract of two IRCTC hotels to a private firm.
Special Judge Arun Bhardwaj also issued a production warrant against Prasad in the case.
The action is in connection with its money laundering probe in the IRCTC hotel allotment scam case involving Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad and his family.
Rabri Devi's appearance before the central probe agency comes after she skipped similar summonses at least six times.
The ED had registered a criminal case against the Lalu Prasad family members.
It is understood that this is the second summon by the agency to Rabri after she did not depose before it the first time.
The 27-year-old former deputy chief minister of Bihar appeared before the agency after evading three notices for questioning in connection with the case, CBI sources said.
The case dates back to the time when Lalu was the railway minister in the UPA government.
The court granted bail to Rabri and Tejashwi Yadav in the CBI case on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and a surety of a like amount.
Rabri Devi's lawyer told a Delhi court last week that the former chief minister did not have a passport, and that she has never had one, reports M I Khan.
Searches are being conducted on Friday at 12 locations including Delhi, Patna, Ranchi, Puri and Gurgaon.
The crisis will strengthen Nitish Kumar's position as Lalu's troubles erodes his bargaining power within the ruling coalition in Bihar.
As the Indian version of The Archies gets ready to hit OTT, Deepa Gahlot picks 10 interesting college-and-youth-oriented shows on OTT.
