IRCTC, Land-for-Job Cases: Delhi Court Rejects Rabri Devi’s Plea to Transfer CBI, ED Trials

Rabri Devi has moved four separate petitions seeking transfer of four cases pending before Judge Gogne. These include proceedings arising out of the alleged IRCTC scam, the land-for-jobs case, and the money laundering cases initiated in connection with these matters.

The cases arise out of investigations relating to alleged irregularities in the award of IRCTC hotel tenders and the purported land-for-job appointments during the tenure of her husband, former Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.

After hearing submissions, the Rouse Avenue Court declined to grant the relief sought and rejected the transfer application. With this, the cases linked to the CBI and ED investigations will continue to be heard by the same court.

The district court will take up the matter again on December 17 after receiving Judge Gogne’s comments.

Central Bureau of Investigation on December 13 had opposed Rabri Devi's plea seeking the transfer of criminal cases pending against her and members of her family in the land-for-jobs scam from Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts to any other judge. Opposing the plea, Special Public Prosecutor DP Singh had argued that the application amounted to an attempt at forum shopping and interference with the judicial process. “You can’t bulldoze a Court..You can’t demean a judge,” Singh submitted, contending that the plea was misconceived and untenable in law.

Previously, in a detailed reply filed in the instant case, the CBI had described the transfer application as a “mala fide attempt” aimed at undermining the authority of the Court.

The agency alleged that the plea was intended not only to scandalise the Court but also to browbeat the Special Judge and cause direct interference with the independent and fair administration of justice. It further pointed out that the allegation of bias was raised only after extensive arguments on the charge had been heard over several months, charges were framed, and the trial had progressed to the stage of recording evidence, adding that this timing clearly indicated an attempt to derail the proceedings.

The CBI has charge-sheeted Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Tejashwi Yadav, Hema Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav and others, alleging that jobs in the Indian Railways were given in exchange for land parcels transferred to the family during Lalu Yadav’s tenure as Railway Minister.

The Court had earlier reserved its order on September 11 after hearing extensive arguments from both sides. Appearing for the CBI, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) D.P. Singh had contended that sufficient material existed to frame charges against all accused, asserting that the evidence demonstrated a clear quid pro quo involving recruitment in the Railways. On behalf of Rabri Devi, counsel had argued that she had purchased land legally by paying due consideration, and such transactions were independent and unconnected to any alleged recruitment favours.

In a related news, on July 18, the Apex Court had refused a plea by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav against an order refusing to stay the trial court's proceedings against him in relation to the land for jobs scam. The Bench had said that it would not interfere for such a small matter and let the High Court decide the main issue of quashing the chargesheet.

The Delhi High Court had in May dismissed a plea filed by the former Union Railway Minister seeking quashing of the FIR, chargesheets and the cognisance taken by the trial court in connection with the land-for-job scam being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

In 2023 a Delhi court had granted bail to Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi in relation to a fresh CBI chargesheet in alleged land-for-job scam case.

Case Title: Smt. Rabri Devi Vs. CBI & Ors.

Bench: Principal District and Sessions Judge Dinesh Bhatt

Hearing Date: December 19, 2025