The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following a plea by former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi challenging a trial court order in the IRCTC hotel scam case. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma sought CBI’s response and scheduled further hearings for January 19 after a brief initial hearing. Rabri Devi argued in her plea that the trial court had wrongly framed charges against her based on presumptions without proper evaluation of evidence.
This development comes after a similar plea was filed by Rabri Devi’s son, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, challenging the trial court’s order to frame charges against him and his family members in the same case. The Delhi High Court also issued a notice on Tejashwi Yadav’s criminal revision petition and directed that his plea be heard alongside a similar petition filed by Lalu Prasad Yadav.
In an order dated October 13, 2025, Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Courts allowed the trial of Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, and other accused under Sections 420 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges. The alleged scam relates to the period between 2004 and 2009 when Lalu Prasad was the Railway Minister.
The prosecution alleges that during Lalu Prasad’s tenure, two IRCTC hotels were leased without following proper procedures. One hotel was allotted to Sarla Gupta, wife of Prem Gupta, a close associate of Lalu Prasad. The RJD leader is accused of acquiring three acres of prime land through a benami company.
