India, Oct. 14 -- A Delhi court on Monday framed charges of corruption, conspiracy and cheating against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi, and their son and leader of Opposition in the state, Tejashwi Yadav, in connection with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotels case.

The court described Lalu Prasad as the "fountainhead of a criminal conspiracy" who manipulated a railway tender in exchange for land and other favours.

The development comes as Bihar heads into a high-stakes assembly elections, to be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with counting on November 14. The timing of the order, barely weeks before campaigning enters its final str...