IRCTC ‘scam’ case: Delhi HC to hear Lalu Prasad’s plea against framing of charges

The Delhi High Court is likely to hear the matter today a petition filed by RJD chief and former Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav challenging a special court’s order framing charges against him in the alleged IRCTC scam case. The plea also relates to charges framed against his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, and 11 other accused .

According to court sources, the matter is listed before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on January 5 . Lalu Prasad has assailed the special court’s October 13 order, arguing that no prima facie case is made out against him and that the court framed charges in a mechanical manner without sufficient material.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities during Lalu Prasad’s tenure as Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009, when the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) outsourced the operation and maintenance of Railways’ hotels at Ranchi in Jharkhand and Puri in Odisha to a private firm. Investigating agencies allege that tender conditions were manipulated to favour the firm and that IRCTC suffered losses, while the private entity gained undue benefit.

The prosecution has alleged a quid pro quo , claiming that in exchange for the hotel contracts, prime land parcels and shares were transferred at below-market value to Lalu Prasad’s family members through associated entities, including M/s LARA Projects LLP. These transactions, the agency contends, amounted to criminal conspiracy, cheating, and abuse of official position.

While framing charges, the trial court made scathing observations, stating that the land and share transactions were “possibly an instance of crony capitalism fostered in the garb of eliciting private participation” in Railways’ hotel projects.

Besides Lalu Prasad , the court framed charges under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(d)(ii) and (iii) of the Prevention of Corruption Act against former railway and IRCTC officials Pradeep Kumar Goel, Rakesh Saksena, Bhupendra Kumar Agarwal, Rakesh Kumar Gogia, and Vinod Kumar Asthana. Charges under IPC Section 420 (cheating) were also directed to be framed against Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, M/s LARA Projects LLP, Vijay Kochhar, Vinay Kochhar, Sarla Gupta, and Prem Chand Gupta. A common charge of criminal conspiracy under IPC Section 120B has been framed against all 14 accused.

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.

Politically, the case has significant ramifications, as it involves one of the most prominent opposition leaders and his family. While the RJD has consistently termed the case politically motivated, the prosecution maintains that sufficient evidence exists to warrant a full trial. The outcome of the High Court hearing is expected to have implications both legally and politically.