The Delhi High Court has asked the CBI to respond to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s plea challenging the charges in the alleged IRCTC scam, while senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Maninder Singh sought a stay on trial proceedings for now.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court sought a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a petition filed by former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and also declined to grant an immediate stay on the trial challenging a trial court order that framed criminal charges against him and his family members in the alleged IRCTC scam case.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed that the Court could not decide on the stay request without first considering the agency’s reply.
Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Maninder Singh represented Yadav before the Court and informed that they were seeking a stay on the proceedings before the trial court.
They informed to the court that,
“Two witnesses have been examined in a month,”.
Justice Sharma remarked,
“Let them file a reply. You should have come earlier, you didn’t come. The trial court order was passed earlier,”
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma stated that Yadav’s request for a stay would be considered on January 14, after the CBI submits its response.
The IRCTC scam involves alleged irregularities in awarding contracts for Ranchi and Puri railway hotels when Lalu Prasad Yadav was Union Railways Minister (2004–2009).
On 13 October 2025, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court formally framed charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, and 11 others for cheating, criminal conspiracy, and violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Earlier, Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court had framed charges against Yadav for corruption, cheating, and criminal conspiracy. His wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav were also charged with conspiracy and cheating.
According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family allegedly received valuable land parcels and company shares as illegal gratification in exchange for awarding contracts to a private hotel company during his tenure as Union Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009.
The agency alleges that IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri were leased to Sujata Hotels through an irregular and manipulated tender process, while land valued in crores was transferred to a company linked to Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav at significantly undervalued rates.
The Yadav family has rejected the allegations, asserting that the prosecution is politically driven and lacks credible evidence.
The trial court found sufficient material to proceed against Lalu Yadav and observed that,
“It had come to a prima facie conclusion that Lalu Yadav was in the complete know of the processes and intervened to influence the transfer of the hotels.”
The court also pointed to major changes made during the tendering process and noted that the land parcels appeared undervalued, allegedly benefiting Lalu Yadav, while causing losses to the public exchequer.
The Trial court further remarked,
“Various persons engaged in a conspiracy which may have involved multiple smaller conspiracies.”
The court went on to criticize the dealings, observing that the case reflected elements of corporate favoritism masked as private sector participation and stated,
“This conspiracy is not entirely hidden; the entire transaction is prima facie fraudulent, and the accused cannot be discharged at this stage,”
Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav had moved the Delhi High Court challenging a trial court order that framed criminal charges against him and his family members in the alleged IRCTC scam case.
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