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11 September 2026

PMLA charges against Lalu Prasad in IRCTC case

While the specific case is a matter of domestic political litigation, it serves as a practical context for discussing the application of the PMLA and the Prevention of Corruption Act in the broader framework of probity in governance.

1 min read 2 questions 1 prelims

Notes

  • A Delhi court has framed charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against several individuals, including a former Union Railway Minister and his family members, regarding alleged irregularities in the leasing of IRCTC hotels.
  • The allegations involve the period between 2004 and 2009, during which the accused allegedly manipulated the tendering process for two hotels in Patna and Puri.
  • The CBI alleges that contracts were awarded in exchange for illegal consideration, specifically high-value land and shares.
  • The court previously framed charges in October 2025 for corruption, criminal conspiracy, and cheating under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act.
  • The court noted a strong suspicion of abuse of office in the case.
  • The PMLA framework is being applied alongside the PC Act to address the alleged laundering of proceeds of crime derived from the aforementioned irregularities.

Questions

  1. Discuss the role of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in curbing corruption in public office. How does it complement the Prevention of Corruption Act in ensuring accountability in the administrative machinery? 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. The integrity of public procurement processes is essential for maintaining trust in governance. Analyze the challenges in preventing corruption within the leasing of public assets and suggest institutional reforms to enhance transparency in such transactions. 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, primarily aims to:

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-09-11/pmla-charges-against-lalu-prasad-in-irctc-case