New Delhi/Patna: The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a petition filed by former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, seeking to challenge the framing of charges against him and his family members in the high-profile IRCTC hotel scam. The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for January 14.
The petition was listed before Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma. During proceedings, the court directed the CBI to respond to the petition and fixed the date for further hearing.
Challenge to Lower Court’s Order
Lalu Prasad Yadav has challenged the order of the Rouse Avenue Court, which had framed charges against him, his wife Rabri Devi, and his son Tejashwi Yadav under serious provisions of law. The charges relate to allegations of fraud, criminal conspiracy, and corruption. The former Chief Minister’s criminal revision petition contends that there is insufficient basis to proceed with the cases under anti-corruption and criminal law provisions.
Background of the Case
The Rouse Avenue Court had, on October 13, 2025, ordered the framing of charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family in the widely reported IRCTC hotel scam. The court had invoked Section 420 (cheating), Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The FIR, filed by the CBI on July 5, 2017, alleges that during his tenure as Union Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav facilitated undue benefits to the owners of Sujata Hotel Private Limited (Vijay and Vinay Kochar). The probe claims that irregularities occurred in the leasing of IRCTC’s BNR hotels in Ranchi and Puri, resulting in wrongful gains to the private parties involved.
The court will hear the matter next on January 14, 2026.
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