Delhi HC Issues Notice On Lalu's Plea Against Charges In IRCTC Hotel Case

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a notice on the plea of former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad in the IRCTC hotel scam case. Lalu Prasad has challenged the framing of charges by the trial court in the CBI case.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation and sought a reply. However, no instant relief against the order of trial has been granted. The court has not granted a stay on the order.

The court has listed the matter for hearing on the Stay application on January 14. " Let them file a reply. I will hear you on the point of stay," Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said. The high court has asked the CBI to file a reply. The next date of the hearing is January 14.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, Senior advocate Maninder Singh, assisted by Ekta Vats, advocates Varun Jain and Navin Kumar appeared for Lalu Prasad. They pressed for a stay. ASG D P Singh, alongwith Advocate Manu Mishra, appeared for the CBI.
Former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad has moved the Delhi High Court challenging a trial court order that framed corruption and criminal conspiracy charges against him in the alleged IRCTC scam.

In October 2025, the trial court framed charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav in connection with alleged irregularities in the award of tenders by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation. His wife, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, and their son Tejashwi Yadav, who is currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, have also been charged in the case for offences including criminal conspiracy and cheating.

While framing the charges, Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts observed that Lalu Prasad Yadav, during his tenure as Union Minister for Railways, had allegedly abused his official position to manipulate eligibility conditions in a land tender process. The court held that he was fully aware of the alleged conspiracy and had actively intervened in the decision-making process, resulting in substantial loss to the public exchequer.

The case originates from a 2017 FIR lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation against Yadav, members of his family, officials of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, and other private individuals. The CBI has alleged that between 2004 and 2009, when Yadav was the Railway Minister, a criminal conspiracy was hatched to award IRCTC hotel tenders in Patna and Puri to favoured parties in return for bribes in the form of prime land and shares.

Following completion of the investigation, the CBI filed a chargesheet against Lalu Prasad Yadav and other accused persons.

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