New Delhi: A Special CBI Court at Rouse Avenue, New Delhi, has declined to interfere with the directive mandating uninterrupted trial hearings in the alleged IRCTC hotel allotment scam, dismissing the application moved by former Bihar Chief Ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi. The Court observed that maintaining continuity of proceedings is essential for the fair and prompt adjudication of corruption trials.
The prosecution arises from alleged irregularities in awarding operational contracts for two Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) hotels situated at Ranchi and Puri during the tenure of Lalu Prasad Yadav as the then Union Minister for Railways.
Delivering its order on November 11, 2025, Special Judge Vishal Gogne emphasized that once the recording of evidence has commenced, the proceedings must continue without interruption, as required under Section 309 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and in line with the framework of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The Court underscored that:
“The statutory purpose of conducting day-to-day hearings in corruption trials is to prevent procedural stagnation and ensure that justice is neither delayed nor diluted. Discontinuity in evidence recording undermines both efficiency and credibility of the judicial process.”
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) opposed the plea, submitting that the accused had repeatedly sought adjournments in a prosecution pending since 2018. Upholding this contention, the Court clarified that while every accused is entitled to a fair hearing, such entitlement cannot be stretched to impede the judicial timeline of a criminal trial.
Directing that witness examination proceed consecutively until conclusion, the Court observed that consistent trial sittings uphold the spirit of procedural discipline envisaged under the criminal justice system.
According to the CBI’s case, a quid pro quo arrangement was allegedly facilitated, whereby contracts for IRCTC hotels were awarded to a private firm in exchange for valuable immovable assets transferred to entities associated with the Yadav family. The alleged acts attract charges under Sections 120B (Criminal Conspiracy) and 420 (Cheating) of the Indian Penal Code, along with corresponding provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The Court reiterated the settled principle that trials involving alleged misuse of public office must progress without unwarranted delay to maintain institutional integrity and public confidence in the justice system.
Appearances: Mr. Pankaj Gupta, Advocate for the CBI; Mr. Manish Tiwari and Mr. Sudhir Kumar, Counsel for the accused.
Case Title: CBI v. Lalu Prasad Yadav & Ors.
Court: Special CBI Court, Rouse Avenue, New Delhi
Judge: Hon’ble Special Judge Vishal Gogne
Date of Order: November 11, 2025
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