Lalu function; SC permits hotel employees to withdraw plea

New Delhi, Sept 1 (UNI) The Supreme Court today permitted Ashoka Hotel Majdoor Union to withdraw its petition seeking inquiry into the huge expenditure by Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on the marriage of his daughter which was solemnized in Ashoka hotel, New Delhi on April 30, 2006.

A Bench comprising Justices K G Balakrishnan and D K Jain told the petitioner that the court was not a police station. ''If you have any grievance lodge a complaint with the police,'' the Court said.

D K Garg, counsel for the petitioner, sought the permission of the court to withdraw its petition saying that he would file a police complaint.

According to the petitioner, the dinner rate of Rs 900 per head was reduced to Rs 600 per head and other concessions were also given to the RJD supremo which are not permissible under the rules of Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC). Ashoka hotel is owned by the ITDC.

Other allegations include payment of about Rs 21 lakhs in cash without giving PAN number.

UNI AKS/SC PDM RP KN1418