The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a petition filed by Rabri Devi, wife of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, challenging the framing of charges against her in the alleged IRCTC scam case.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma asked the CBI to file its response and listed the matter for hearing in January, along with similar petitions moved by Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav.
Background of the Case
The case relates to allegations that railway hotels located in Ranchi and Puri were transferred to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and later leased out in a manner that allegedly benefited private parties through a “rigged and manipulated” process.
The CBI has claimed that a conspiracy was hatched between 2004 and 2014, during which the BNR hotels were leased to Patna-based Sujata Hotels Pvt Ltd for operations and maintenance.
According to the agency, the alleged conspiracy involved undue advantage to certain individuals through the handling of the tender process and linked transactions.
What Rabri Devi Told the High Court
In her plea, Rabri Devi argued that the trial court framed charges against her based on assumptions rather than clear material showing her involvement.
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She maintained that even if the trial court’s observations are accepted “at face value,” the ingredients of cheating under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) are still not made out against her.
In one of the key arguments, her petition stated that the trial court acted mechanically while framing charges.
“The Ld. Special Court has acted as a post office and has erroneously framed the charges against the Petitioner merely on the basis of… presumptions,” the plea said, referring to alleged undervalued land deals and share purchases.
She also claimed there was no evidence to show that she played any role in the tender process for the hotels.
“It is a matter of record that neither A-1 nor his family members, including the petitioner, was ever involved in the tender process for BNR Hotels at Ranchi and Puri,” the petition said.
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Trial Court’s Observations
The charges were framed by the trial court on October 13, 2025, against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and 11 others.
The trial court directed that a common charge be framed against all 14 accused under criminal conspiracy and cheating provisions, along with corruption-related sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
In the order, the trial court noted that the transactions under scrutiny were “possibly an instance of crony capitalism” linked to private participation in railway hotels.
“The trial court said the land and share transactions were ‘possibly an instance of crony capitalism fostered in the garb of eliciting private participation in the Railways’ hotels at Ranchi and Puri,’” the order recorded.
Charges and Accused Named
The trial court framed charges for criminal conspiracy under Section 120B IPC, cheating under Section 420 IPC, and also invoked provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
“A common charge is directed to be framed against all (14) accused under section 120B IPC read with section 420 IPC and section 13(2) read with section 13(1)(d)(ii) and (iii) PC Act,” the trial court order stated.
Apart from the Yadav family, others facing charges include Pradeep Kumar Goel, Rakesh Saksena, Bhupendra Kumar Agarwal, Rakesh Kumar Gogia and Vinod Kumar Asthana.
The trial court also directed that cheating charges be framed against Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi, M/s LARA Projects LLP, Vijay Kochhar, Vinay Kochhar, Sarla Gupta, and Prem Chand Gupta.
What the High Court Did
After hearing the matter briefly, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued notice to the CBI and sought its stand on Rabri Devi’s challenge.
“The bench issued notice and sought the CBI’s response,” the court proceedings reflected.
The matter has been listed for hearing in January, along with the similar petitions filed by Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, which are already pending before the same judge.
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Decision
The Delhi High Court issued notice to the CBI on Rabri Devi’s petition challenging the framing of charges in the IRCTC scam case and listed the matter for hearing in January.
Case Title: Rabri Devi v. CBI
Date: Notice issued; Next hearing on 20 January 2026
