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Jagran correspondent, New Delhi. The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said that the court will not stay the ongoing case against RJD leader Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi Yadav in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) scam. However, a bench of Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma said the trial court can cross-examine the witnesses next week, by which time it will decide on the pleas of the father and son against its order framing charges in the case.
Will pass final decision on this matter next week
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Lalu Yadav, told the bench that last time the court had fixed January 14 for hearing on the issue of staying the trial during the pendency of the present petitions against framing of charges. He said that after examining the witnesses, the trial court will start the proceedings of cross-examination of the witnesses. On this, the bench said that let the main investigation be conducted, the court is not stopping it. The bench said it would pass a final verdict on the matter next week instead of deciding on the issue of stay first.
Corruption in allotment of maintenance contracts of IRCTC hotels
Hinting at an early verdict on the petitions, the court directed the CBI counsel not to cross-examine next week. On October 13, 2025, the trial court had framed charges against the accused Lalu Yadav, his wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, son and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and 11 others for offenses under the Indian Penal Code, cheating, criminal conspiracy and sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The case pertains to allegations of corruption in the allotment of contracts for maintenance of IRCTC hotels during Lalu Prasad Yadav's tenure as Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009.
Raids on 12 locations linked to Lalu and his family
It is alleged that the contracts for maintenance of two hotels were given to Sujata Hotel, a private firm of Vijay and Vinay Kochhar. It is alleged that this contract was given in exchange for three acres of valuable land obtained through an anonymous company linked to Lalu. On July 7, 2017, the CBI had filed an FIR in the case and also raided 12 locations linked to Lalu and his family in Patna, New Delhi, Ranchi and Gurugram.
Sufficient evidence exists to frame charges
The agency has accused Lalu and his family members of criminal conspiracy and corruption. CBI has claimed that there is enough evidence to frame charges against all the accused. On March 1, the CBI had completed its arguments on the charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, former Union Minister Premchand Gupta and others.
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