SC asks for original documents of Lalu's daughter's wedding

New Delhi, Aug 7 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed the petitioners who have sought an inquiry by the chairman Direct Taxes, to file original documents within a week in connection with the alleged cash payment of Rs 21 lakh by Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad for his daughter's marriage in Ashok hotel here.

According to the petitioners the Ashoka hotel Mazdoor Janata Union and S S Upadhayay president of the union-- around 5,000 guests including, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, cabinet ministers, MPs, and bureaucrats, among others, attended the function on April 30, 2006.

Party room number 479, entire Darbar resturant, full convention hall, entire swimming pool area besides room number 1123, 1124, 1125, and 1126 in Ashok hotel were booked by Minister of State for Company Affairs Prem Chand Gupta.

The existing rates of the menu which is Rs 900 were reduced to Rs 600 per head and mocktails generally served at Rs 90 was reduced to Rs 60 per head.

According to the hotel rules, the entire amount has to be deposited at least two days in advance but in the case of Mr Prasad nothing was paid before hand.

On the petitioners complain on May 4, the hotel raised a bill of Rs 21 lakh bifurcating the same in the names of several 'assumed persons' which was paid in cash. No PAN number of depositors was taken and the identities of the persons who paid the cash were not mantained.

The petitioners have also filed an application to implead the Chief Vigilance Commissioner.

A Bench comprising Mr Justice KG Balakrishnan and Mr Justice D K Jain adjourned the hearing for a week.

The respondents include the Central government, chairman Direct Taxes, general manager Ashok hotel and the Union Railway Minister.

UNI AKS/SC SB AT HT1422