Delhi HC Seeks CBI Response on Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Plea Challenging Framing of Charges in IRCTC Scam

The Delhi High Court on Monday, January 5, 2026, issued notice on a petition filed by former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav, challenging the special court’s order framing charges against him and his family members in the alleged IRCTC scam case.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma declined to grant a stay on the trial at this stage, noting that such relief could not be considered in the absence of a response from the investigating agency.

The court accordingly sought a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and listed the matter for further hearing on January 14.

During the hearing, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appeared for Yadav, while the CBI was represented by Senior Advocate and Special Public Prosecutor DP Singh.

Earlier, on October 13, a Delhi court had framed corruption charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Yadav, and other accused in connection with the IRCTC scam. The order was passed by Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts, who observed that sufficient material existed on record to proceed against the accused. All three leaders pleaded not guilty.

The case relates to alleged irregularities in the award of contracts for the maintenance of two Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotels located in Ranchi and Puri during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as Union Railway Minister.The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has accused the trio and other co-accused of criminal conspiracy, cheating, and corruption; offences that carry a maximum sentence of seven years. The accused have denied the allegations, claiming there is no prosecutable evidence.Lalu Prasad, who served as the Union Railway Minister during the UPA-I regime, has also contested the validity of prosecution sanctions obtained by the CBI. The CBI, on its part, argued before the Court on February 28 that there is enough material to proceed with trial.

According to the CBI’s charge sheet, a conspiracy was allegedly executed between 2004 and 2014, wherein the BNR Hotels in Puri and Ranchi, owned by Indian Railways, were first transferred to the IRCTC and then awarded on lease to Sujata Hotels Pvt Ltd, a Patna-based private firm. The tender conditions were purportedly manipulated to benefit the company.

Besides the Yadav family, the charge sheet names former IRCTC officials V K Asthana and R K Goyal; directors of Sujata Hotels, Vijay and Vinay Kochhar; and corporate entities Delight Marketing Company (now Lara Projects) and Sujata Hotels as accused.

Case Title: Lalu Prasad Yadav v. CBI

Bench: Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma

Hearing Date: 5 January 2025