IRCTC case: Court reserves order on framing of charges against Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi

Delhi court reserves order on framing charges against Lalu Prasad and others in IRCTC case, arguments concluded.

A Delhi court on Thursday (May 29, 2025) reserved its order on whether to frame charges against RJD president Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, their son Tejashwi Yadav and others in a case linked to alleged irregularities in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

Special judge Vishal Gogne reserved the order for July 23 after the arguments were concluded on the aspect of charge, while directing the accused persons to file a short synopsis of their arguments within one week.

"Limited submissions have been addressed by the counsel for the CBI in terms of the previous order. The arguments thus stand concluded on the aspect of charge. The accused persons who have not furnished written submissions are at liberty to file a short synopsis of their arguments comprising no more than six to eight pages within one week," judge Gogne said.

The judge said that since extensive arguments were advanced by the respective counsels for the 14 accused with reference to the voluminous record and the proceedings were stretched over several months even with day-to-day hearing in bulk dates, "the court shall require suitable time for pronouncing the order on charge".

Mr. Prasad, Ms. Devi and Mr. Yadav earlier refuted corruption and other charges levelled against them by the CBI in the case.

The charges include criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption that carry a maximum jail term of seven years.

The three claimed before the court through their lawyer that the CBI lacked evidence to prosecute them in the case.