ED notice to wife of MP close to RJD chief Lalu Prasad

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has again summoned the wife of RJD MP P.C. Gupta to be questioned on Friday in connection with alleged irregularities in awarding maintenance contracts of two railway hotels to a private company by then Railway Minister Lalu Prasad in 2006.

"A notice has been sent to Sarla Gupta to appear before the ED on Friday," an official of the financial probe agency told IANS, requesting anonymity.

Sarla Gupta was earlier summoned on August 17 for questioning on August 21. However, she did not turn up.

The summons follow the CBI's July 5 case against Lalu Prasad and his family members.

Lalu Prasad as Railway Minister in 2006 is alleged to have handed over the maintenance contract of two IRCTC hotels to Sujata Hotels after receiving a bribe in the form of prime land in Patna.

The Central Bureau of Investigation claimed that the kickback was paid through a 'benami' company owned by Sarla Gupta.

The ED on July 27 registered a separate case under Prevention of Money Laundering Act taking cognisance of the CBI FIR against RJD chief Lalu Prasad.