IRCTC Scam: Rabri Devi Moves Delhi Court for Transfer of Case, Notice Issued to CBI

The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi on Wednesday 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.

Notably, on October 13, the Court had framed charges of corruption against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Yadav and others in connection with the alleged IRCTC scam case.

Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne had passed the order, observing that sufficient material existed to proceed against the accused. All three leaders pleaded "not guilty" to the charges.

In July the Court deferred its order till August 5 on whether to frame charges against RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, his The Court had reserved its order on May 29 after hearing detailed arguments on charge. "In continuation of the previous bulk listing of the present matter from 28.02.2025 to 07.03.2025; 22.03.2025 to 29.03.2025, 21.04.2025 to 26.04.2025 and from 07.05.2025 to 21.05.2025, the matter is again listed today," the Court had noted on May 29.

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.

Pertinently, in March 2023, the Delhi Court had granted bail to to former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, daughter Misa Bharti and others in connection with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) scam case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

It is to be noted, that on February 27, 2023, the Delhi Court had issued summons to Lalu Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, daughter Misa Bharti and 13 others in the present case while observing, “A perusal of the charge sheet and the documents and material on record, prima facie shows the commission of offences under Section 120B read with Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 IPC and Sections 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 (2) read with Section 13 (1) (d) of PC Act, 1988 and substantive offences thereof. Accordingly, cognizance is taken of the said offences.”

Hearing Date: November 26, 2025

Bench: Principal District and Sessions Judge Dinesh Bhatt

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