NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a plea filed by RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav challenging the trial court order that framed charges against him in the alleged IRCTC scam case. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued notice to the CBI on Tejashwi’s petition as well as his application seeking a stay, and posted the matter for further hearing on January 14. On the same day, the court will also hear a similar plea filed by his father, former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, according to news agency PTI. On October 13, 2025, a trial court had framed charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and 11 other accused in the case. The charges relate to alleged offences of cheating and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code, along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Both Tejashwi and Lalu have approached the High Court challenging the trial court’s order, which arises from alleged irregularities in the awarding of operational contracts of two Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotels to a private firm. Apart from Lalu Prasad Yadav, the trial court framed charges against Pradeep Kumar Goel, Rakesh Saksena, Bhupendra Kumar Agarwal, Rakesh Kumar Gogia and Vinod Kumar Asthana under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(d)(ii) and (iii) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Section 13(2) prescribes punishment for criminal misconduct by a public servant, while Section 13(1)(d)(ii) and (iii) pertain to abuse of official position to obtain undue advantage. The court also directed that charges under IPC Section 420 (cheating) be framed against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, M/s LARA Projects LLP, Vijay Kochhar, Vinay Kochhar, Sarla Gupta and Prem Chand Gupta. “A common charge is directed to be framed against all (14) accused under section 120B (criminal conspiracy) IPC read with section 420 IPC and section 13(2) read with section 13(1)(d)(ii) and (iii) PC Act,” the court had said. The maximum punishment under the Prevention of Corruption Act is 10 years’ imprisonment, while the offence of cheating carries a maximum sentence of seven years.
