India, Sept. 10 -- A Delhi court on Thursday ordered framing of money laundering charges against former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Yadav and six others in the Enforcement Directorate's case linked to the alleged IRCTC hotel scam.

Special Judge Vishal Gogne discharged seven of the 16 accused and ordered charges to be framed against the remaining nine under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The court said that at the stage of framing charges, it was not required to determine criminal intent or mens rea and had to examine whether there was a strong suspicion against the accused.

The court rejected Lalu Prasad's argument that the ED case was motivated by political ...