New Delhi, Jan 3: Former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has approached the Delhi High Court challenging a trial court’s order that directed the framing of criminal charges against him and his family members in the alleged IRCTC hotel scam case.
Lalu Prasad filed a criminal revision petition against the October 13, 2025, order of Special Judge (PC Act) Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court. The court had ruled that sufficient grounds existed to proceed against the accused for offences under Sections 420 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The matter is listed for hearing before a single-judge bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on January 5.
The trial court’s order followed detailed arguments on May 29, 2025, concerning the framing of charges against Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Yadav, and other accused, including Prem Gupta, Sarla Gupta, and Railway officials Rakesh Saksena and P.K. Goyal. All accused had pleaded not guilty.
The alleged scam pertains to the period between 2004 and 2009, during Lalu Prasad’s tenure as Union Railway Minister, when two hotels were leased without following proper norms. One of the hotels was allotted to Sarla Gupta, wife of Prem Gupta, a close associate of Lalu Prasad and a Rajya Sabha MP at the time. The prosecution claims that the RJD chief also acquired three acres of prime land through a benami company. Lalu Prasad has denied wrongdoing, asserting that tenders were awarded fairly, and has sought discharge from the case.
Meanwhile, in a setback to Rabri Devi and other family members, the Delhi court recently rejected four petitions seeking transfer of multiple corruption and money-laundering cases, including the IRCTC hotel scam and Enforcement Directorate prosecutions, from Special Judge Vishal Gogne. With the dismissal of these petitions, all criminal cases against Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, and other family members will continue in the Rouse Avenue Court under the same judge.
