IRCTC Case: Delhi HC Seeks CBI Response on Lalu Prasad’s Plea Challenging Charge Framing
High Court refuses to stay trial, issues notice to CBI; matter listed for January 14
New Delhi, Jan 5: The Delhi High Court on Monday sought a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a plea filed by RJD leader and former Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, challenging the trial court’s order framing charges against him in the alleged IRCTC scam case.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, however, declined to stay the trial proceedings at this stage, observing that the court could not grant such relief without first examining the probe agency’s response. Issuing notice to the CBI on Yadav’s petition and accompanying stay application, the High Court posted the matter for further hearing on January 14.
On October 13, 2025, the trial court had framed charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and 11 other accused for alleged offences of cheating and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act.
Challenging the order, Yadav approached the High Court contending that the charges were unsustainable. The trial court, while framing charges, had made sharp observations, stating that the land and share transactions linked to the case were “possibly an instance of crony capitalism fostered in the garb of eliciting private participation” in the operation of railway hotels at Ranchi and Puri.
Apart from Lalu Prasad Yadav, charges under Section 13(2) read with Sections 13(1)(d)(ii) and (iii) of the PC Act were framed against Pradeep Kumar Goel, Rakesh Saksena, Bhupendra Kumar Agarwal, Rakesh Kumar Gogia and Vinod Kumar Asthana. These provisions relate to criminal misconduct by a public servant through abuse of official position.
The trial court had also ordered framing of charges under Section 420 (cheating) of the IPC against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, M/s LARA Projects LLP, Vijay Kochhar, Vinay Kochhar, Sarla Gupta and Prem Chand Gupta. A common charge of criminal conspiracy under Section 120B IPC, read with Section 420 IPC and the relevant provisions of the PC Act, was directed against all 14 accused.
The maximum punishment under the Prevention of Corruption Act is 10 years of imprisonment, while the offence of cheating carries a maximum sentence of seven years.
