File photo of Lalu Yadav. Source:X
Lalu Yadav, Family Face Trial In Delhi IRCTC Hotel Scam
Lalu Pleads Not Guilty, Election Looms
New Delhi: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and son Tejashwi Yadav were formally charged today by a Delhi court in the high-profile IRCTC hotel scam case, just weeks ahead of the November Bihar Assembly elections. This development marks a significant turning point in a long-running legal battle, intensifying the political stakes in Bihar.
The charges framed by Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court include corruption, criminal conspiracy, and cheating under Indian laws. The case revolves around allegations that during Lalu’s tenure as Union Railway Minister between 2004 and 2009, two IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri were leased to a private company named Sujata Hotels through a manipulated tender process. In exchange, prime land parcels in Patna were allegedly transferred at grossly undervalued rates to companies linked to Lalu’s wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav. The court found prima facie evidence that the tender eligibility criteria were tweaked to benefit Sujata Hotels, and the land transfer was part of a quid pro quo arrangement, resulting in a loss to the public exchequer.
Lalu Prasad Yadav was charged under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, which relate to criminal misconduct by a public servant. Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav face charges of conspiracy and cheating. The court observed that there was a clear chain of documentary and circumstantial evidence involving ministerial correspondence, tender documents, bid files, property transfer deeds, bank records, and company filings, which collectively indicated involvement in conspiracy and abuse of official position.
At the hearing, all three accused pleaded not guilty. Lalu appeared in court in a wheelchair owing to ongoing health concerns, but maintained his stance that the charges were politically motivated. Tejashwi Yadav described the case as part of a vendetta by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), urging supporters to remain confident. He cited his father’s legacy, highlighting key achievements in the Indian Railways during Lalu’s ministerial tenure and dismissing the allegations as attempts to malign that record.
The Supreme Court-level probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) began with a First Information Report (FIR) filed on July 7, 2017, and investigations included extensive raids at multiple locations related to the family and associates. The charge sheet and lengthy court proceedings have involved scrutiny of the tendering process and alleged illegal land transfers, culminating in the court’s detailed framing of charges after reviewing voluminous records and arguments over months.
Effectively, this legal case impacts the Bihar Assembly elections by complicating the RJD’s political landscape. As the main opposition party against the JD(U)-BJP alliance, these charges will be intensely leveraged by the NDA as a campaign issue focused on corruption and governance failure. It may create headwinds for the RJD, forcing alliance recalibrations and influencing voter sentiment.
However, the case could also consolidate RJD’s core voter base around a narrative of political victimisation, galvanising sympathy and reinforcing identity politics in favor of the party. The timing further adds emotional resonance, with Lalu Prasad Yadav’s health and courtroom presence symbolising resilience amid adversity.
In a post on X today, Tejashwi claimed that a month ago, when Home Minister Amit Shah came to Bihar, “he was threatening us that he wouldn’t leave us in a condition to contest elections.” Tejashwi, a former deputy chief minister of Bihar, stated, ‘We will fight and we will win. We are Biharis, true Biharis; we do not fear outsiders.” He emphasised, “As long as the riotous and anti-constitution BJP is in power and I am alive, we will continue to fight against the BJP. There’s a special thrill in battling storms. We have chosen the path of struggle. By walking on the path of struggle, we will surely become good travellers and reach our destination.” In a separate tweet, he also stated: “ना हौसला टूटा है ना हिम्मत हारी है, मैं लालू हूँ मेरा लहू बिहारी है….!! लॉर्ड @laluprasadrjd जी (Neither has my courage broken nor has my spirit faltered, I am Lalu, my blood is Bihari….!! Lord @laluprasadrjd ji”). Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, while referring to the charges framed by the court against Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, and Rabri Devi, for corruption in the allocation of government property, conspiracy, and tampering with the government’s decision-making process, stressed 420. He said these were very serious charges. “420 means cheating, which carries a punishment of 7 years. So, what kind of Bihar are you planning to build?” he asked Tejashwi.
आज कोर्ट ने लालू प्रसाद यादव, तेजस्वी यादव और राबड़ी देवी के खिलाफ आरोप तय किए हैं।
ये आरोप हैं, सरकारी संपत्ति के आवंटन में भ्रष्टाचार, कॉन्सपिरेसी, सरकार की निर्णय प्रक्रिया में गड़बड़ करना, और तो और, 420 भी हैं।
420 का मतलब है, धोखाधड़ी, जिसकी सजा है 7 साल। तो कौन-सा बिहार… pic.twitter.com/heZOthMFI4
— BJP (@BJP4India) October 13, 2025
Overall, the framing of charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav and family just weeks before the election is poised to shape political discourse in Bihar profoundly. It highlights critical issues of public trust, governance ethics, and the dynamics of legal processes intersecting with electoral politics in India.
– global bihari bureau
