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 chief Lalu Prasad Yadav challenging the trial court’s order framing charges against him in the alleged IRCTC scam case, while refusing to stay the trial at this stage.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued notice to the CBI on Yadav’s petition as well as his application seeking a stay on the proceedings, but observed that the court could not halt the trial without examining the probe agency’s reply. The matter has been listed for further hearing on January 14.
The former Union railway minister has approached the high court assailing the October 13, 2025 order of the trial court, which framed charges against him, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and 11 others in the case.
The trial court had framed charges for alleged offences of cheating and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code, along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. It had remarked that the land and share transactions involved were “possibly an instance of crony capitalism fostered in the garb of eliciting private participation in the Railways’ hotels at Ranchi and Puri.”
Apart from Lalu Yadav, charges under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(d)(ii) and (iii) of the Prevention of Corruption 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 and abuse of official position by a public servant.
The trial court had also directed framing of charges under IPC Section 420 (cheating) against Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi 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 was ordered against all 14 accused, read with relevant IPC and PC Act provisions.
The maximum punishment under the Prevention of Corruption Act is 10 years’ imprisonment, while the offence of cheating carries a sentence of up to seven years. (Agencies)
