Delhi High Court to Hear Rabri Devi's Challenge Against IRCTC Scam Charges

The Delhi High Court is set to hear Rabri Devi's petition challenging charges in the IRCTC scam. The case involves alleged irregularities in hotel contract awards during Lalu Prasad Yadav's tenure as railway minister. Devi disputes the charges as baseless with no material evidence. The court will review the legality soon.

The Delhi High Court is poised to review a petition from former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi this Friday, contesting a trial court's decision to frame charges against her in the alleged IRCTC scam. The case will be scrutinized by Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma's bench.

Rabri Devi challenges the special CBI court's October 13, 2025, decision to press charges of cheating and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act. This stems from a 2017 CBI FIR about supposed contract irregularities during Lalu Prasad Yadav's term as Union railway minister.

Devi argues the charges are speculation, lacking evidence of fraud or dishonest intentions. She insists on no involvement in the land deals or tender processes, accusing the CBI of failing to provide valuation justifying alleged undervalued transactions. The plea pushes to annul the trial court's order, citing insufficient grounds for charges.

The broader IRCTC scam issue has also seen petitions from Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav challenging similar trial orders, with the Delhi High Court examining them independently. The court has declined to halt Lalu Prasad's ongoing trial but aims to appraise the charges' legality soon.

In prior hearings, advocate Kapil Sibal emphasized the trial stay's necessity due to impending witness cross-examinations. The High Court permitted the trial to proceed, assuring a swift decision on charge validity. The CBI court highlighted concerns of possible "crony capitalism" in its observations. The accused have steadfastly asserted their innocence, describing all transactions as legal and unrelated to any illicit concessions.