Delhi Courts Weekly Round Up [November 24-30, 2025]

1. [IRCTC Scam] The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has issued notice on the transfer application filed by former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi in the IRCTC hotel corruption case. The Principal District and Sessions Judge Dinesh Bhatt has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file its reply and listed the matter for further hearing on December 6. Rabri Devi, along with her husband and former Union Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, their son Tejashwi Yadav and others, is facing trial in the CBI and ED cases arising out of the alleged irregularities in awarding the operational contract of two IRCTC hotels during Lalu Prasad’s tenure as Railway Minister. The matter is currently at the stage of prosecution evidence. Rabri Devi has sought transfer of the proceedings to another judge. During the hearing, her Senior Counsel informed the Court that a separate application will be filed seeking transfer of the Enforcement Directorate case as well. The Court will consider the CBI’s response before taking a decision on the transfer request.

Bench: Principal District and Sessions Judge Dinesh Bhatt

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2. [Jailed MP Engineer Rashid] A Delhi Court has permitted Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, to attend the sixth session of the 18th Lok Sabha while remaining in custody. The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Prashant Sharma at Patiala House Courts. The ASJ had reserved orders on November 26. The Court reiterated that Rashid will be subject to the same conditions earlier imposed when he was allowed custodial parole to attend the Monsoon Session. The detailed conditions, including escort arrangements and restrictions on movement, will continue to govern his attendance in Parliament. During the hearing, the judge noted that the question of who must bear Rashid’s travel and security costs remains unresolved. That issue, he said, will be addressed separately in line with the appeal pending before the Delhi High Court. Rashid, elected from Baramulla after defeating former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has been lodged in Tihar Jail since 2019 following his arrest by the National Investigation Agency in a 2017 terror funding case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Bench: Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Prashant Sharma

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3. [Delhi Red Fort Blast] A Delhi Court has extended by ten days the National Investigation Agency’s custody of Amir Rashid Ali in connection with the Red Fort blast case. Ali was produced before the Court on expiry of his 10 day NIA custody. The order was passed by Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna of the Patiala House Courts following a request from the NIA for additional custodial time to continue its investigation. The Court also remanded another accused, Soyab, to ten days of NIA custody in the same case. He is accused of providing logistical support to the terrorist Umar before the November 10 car bombing that killed several persons and injured many others outside the Red Fort in the national capital. Both accused were produced before the Court today, where the agency argued that further interrogation and evidence collection were necessary.

Bench: Principal District and Sessions judge Anju Bajaj Chandna

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4. [India Gate Protest; Delhi Air Pollution] A Delhi Court has sent six young accused; most of them college students, to three days of police custody in connection with the protest held near India Gate over air pollution, after the Delhi Police alleged use of pepper spray on personnel, blockage of public roads and the raising of slogans in support of banned Maoist groups. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Aridaman Singh Cheema of Patiala House Court granted police custody until Saturday, noting the seriousness of the allegations and the need to probe possible organisational links behind the protest. The Court will hear their bail applications after the custodial period. Delhi Police had initially sought seven days’ custody. During the hearing, senior officers Joint CP Deepak Purohit and DCP Devesh Mahla appeared in court. Police told the Court they needed time to send seized mobile phones to the Forensic Science Laboratory and examine WhatsApp groups allegedly used for mobilisation, including one with over 300 members. Three pepper spray cans were also recovered from three of the accused.

Bench: Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Aridaman Singh Cheema

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5. [National Herald Case] A Delhi Court has postponed its decision on whether to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s chargesheet in the National Herald money-laundering case, extending the wait in the politically significant matter. Special Judge Vishal Gogne of Rouse Avenue Court who is hearing the case, deferred the pronouncement of his order to December 16. On November 7, the Court had reserved its order on the ED's chargesheet in the National Herald money laundering case, in which Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are among the accused. “Further submissions and clarifications have been advanced by the Additional Solicitor General on behalf of the ED in light of the inspection of the case files by the court. List for orders on November 29,” the judge had said.The Court had earlier deferred its decision, noting the need for further scrutiny of the case documents before taking cognisance. The chargesheet, filed by the ED, accuses senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, along with the late party leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, as well as Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, and the company Young Indian, of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

Case Title: Directorate of Enforcement v. Sonia Gandhi & Ors.

Bench: Special Judge Vishal Gogne

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6. [Red Fort Blast] A Delhi Court has remanded three accused to 10 days’ judicial custody in connection with the Red Fort blast case. The four accused: Muzammil Ganaie, Adeel Rather, Shaheena Saeed and Maulvi Irfan Ahmed Wagay; were produced before Principal and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna of Patiala House Court who ordered their judicial custody. With their arrest, the total number of persons apprehended in the case so far has risen to seven. According to the NIA, the ongoing investigation is unearthing a deeply embedded terror network driven by highly educated operatives. The agency stated that it is pursuing multiple leads tied to the suicide explosion outside the Red Fort, and that searches continue across several states in coordination with local police to identify and apprehend additional suspects linked to the attack. Investigators allege that Umar-un-Nabi, who drove the explosives-laden i20 car that detonated near the historic monument, had purchased the vehicle under an associate’s name. Officials further claim that Umar attempted to indoctrinate another accused, Wani, into becoming a suicide bomber. Although Wani declined to take on that role, he allegedly agreed to operate as an overground worker for the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Bench: Principal District and Sessions judge Anju Bajaj Chandna

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7. [Release of Dhurandhar] The parents of late Major Mohit Sharma, Ashoka Chakra awardee, have moved the Delhi High Court with a plea seeking to stop the release of the upcoming film Dhurandhar. The movie is directed by Aditya Dhar and stars Ranveer Singh, and is scheduled for release on December 5, 2025. Major Sharma lost his life during a counter-terrorism operation in Kupwara, Kashmir, in 2009. According to the plea, the film, based on its trailer, promotional material and public interviews, is widely being perceived as portraying the life, military service and martyrdom of Major Sharma. The family states that despite this, the filmmakers did not seek their permission or obtain the required clearance from the Indian Army before proceeding. The plea argues that this unauthorised portrayal infringes upon the right to privacy, dignity and reputation of both the martyr and his family under Article 21 of the Constitution. It also states that the posthumous personality rights of the late officer continue to exist in law and cannot be used without consent. The family has stated that the legacy of a decorated soldier “cannot be commercially exploited or fictionalised without the informed consent of his immediate family or compliance with constitutional and legal obligations relating to dignity, privacy and reputation.”

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8. [Delhi Air Quality] Amid rapidly deteriorating air quality in the national capital, a petition has been filed before the Delhi High Court seeking urgent directions to government authorities to implement effective, scientifically sound measures to control the city’s hazardous pollution levels and improve the Air Quality Index (AQI). The petition has been filed by a registered Residents’ Welfare Association of Greater Kailash–II, New Delhi, through Advocate Udian Sharma. It states that despite repeated administrative assurances, the situation has continued to worsen. "Over the past several years (2019–2024), the ambient air quality in Delhi and specifically in GK-II has deteriorated drastically, with AQI levels frequently entering the ‘very poor’, ‘severe’ and ‘hazardous’ categories, especially during winter months, resulting in persistent and serious pollution-related health issues among residents, including children, senior citizens and persons with pre-existing ailments," the plea states

Case Title: Greater Kailash-II Welfare Association Through its General Secretary: Mr. Sanjay Rana v. Government of NCT of Delhi & Ors

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9. [Yasin Malik] The Delhi High Court has directed Tihar Jail authorities to ensure that Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) terrorist Yasin Malik receives necessary medical care while serving his life sentence in a terror-related case. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, while referring to a recent medical report submitted by the jail administration, observed that Malik does not currently appear to be suffering from any life-threatening illness. However, the Court clarified that if the treatment required for his condition is unavailable inside the prison, he must be referred to an appropriate hospital equipped to provide it. “The petitioner has relied on medical documents dating back to 2017. Based on the latest report from Tihar, there is no indication of a critical condition,” the Court noted, adding that the matter stands concluded with directions to provide suitable medical treatment either within the jail facility or at a hospital with the necessary expertise.

Case Title: Yasin Malik v. State

Bench: Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Manoj Jain

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10. [Ajay Devgan; Personality Rights] The Delhi High Court has passed an order protecting the personality rights of Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn, while directing the removal of obscene and objectionable deepfake material circulating online using his likeness. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora passed the order while hearing Devgn’s plea seeking safeguards against the unauthorized use of his name, pictures, and likeness, especially through AI-generated content. The Court restrained the defendants from misusing Devgn’s image, voice, and personal attributes without his permission. Appearing for Devgn, Advocate Pravin Anand argued that the actor, being a well-known public figure, has a sizeable fan base and a long-standing reputation, both of which are harmed when manipulated and offensive content is shared online. Anand also took the Court through examples of the content in question and the parties involved in sharing it.

Case Title: Ajay alias Vishal Veeru Devgan v. The Artists Planet & Ors.

Bench: Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora

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