CBI files case against Pradeep Baijal in ITDC Udaipur hotel sale

The Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment had in 2002 approved disinvestment of three ITDC hotels.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case of alleged cheating against former telecommunications secretary Pradeep Baijal and Bharat Hotels owned by Jyotsna Suri in connection with disinvestment of Laxmi Vilas Palace hotel during NDA rule in 2002.

It is alleged that the five-star Laxmi Vilas Palace ITDC hotel spread on 29 acres of prime property in Udaipur worth Rs 151 crore was sold to Bharat Hotels at an undervalued price of Rs 7.52 crore in 2002, a CBI spokesperson said.

Those named in the FIR include Baijal, who was then disinvestment secretary, Ashish Guha, the then MD of Lazard India, Kantilal Karamsey Vikamsey, owner of Kanti Karamsey and Company and authorised representative of Bharat Hotels.

Story continues below this ad

The agency has also mentioned unnamed government officers and private persons in the FIR registered under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy and cheating besides under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Udaipur property was sold for Rs 7.52 crore in 2002 against a reserve price of Rs 6.12 crore in 2002.

The Cabinet Committee on Disinvestment had in 2002 approved disinvestment of three ITDC hotels — Qutab Hotel and Lodhi Hotel in New Delhi and Laxmi Vilas Palace Hotel in Udaipur.

The RJD’s key face and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Tejashwi Yadav, party supremo Lalu Yadav’s son, will again contest from his stronghold Raghopur.

Amid Mahagathbandhan crisis, RJD unveils list of 143, drops 36 MLAs, focuses on ‘M-Y’

Political Pulse8 hr ago

The RJD, lead player of the Mahagathbandhan, released its full list of 143 candidates for the November Bihar Assembly elections. Its key face Tejashwi Yadav will contest from Raghopur, and 41 sitting MLAs have been renominated. The party has dropped 36 sitting MLAs and fielded young leaders, signaling a bid to consolidate its core Muslim-Yadav vote base. The Congress has fielded 60 candidates.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS