IRCTC case: Nearly 24 witnesses testify against Lalu Yadav, kin and others

New Delhi: A special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has finished examining nearly two dozen prosecution witnesses in the IRCTC hotels case, people in the know told ET.

The CBI had booked former railway minister Lalu Prasad, his family members and others in July 2017 for allegedly making ill-gotten gains by tweaking the terms of tender of IRCTC hotels. The federal agency is likely to produce another two dozen prosecution witnesses in the coming week, the people cited earlier said. These witnesses will record their testimonies against Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, son Tejashwi Yadav and others for their alleged involvement in the scandal. After their examination-in-chief, these prosecution witnesses will be cross-examined by the defence counsel. The defence is likely to commence the cross-examination later this month.

According to people in the know, the CBI will take a call on summoning more prosecution witnesses (for deposition) after the cross-examination of the witnesses (who have already deposed).


Last October, a special CBI court had framed charges against former Union railway minister Lalu Prasad, his wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi, their son Tejashwi Yadav and others. The court framed charges of corruption (under relevant provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act), criminal conspiracy, cheating and others against Lalu Prasad. Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav and others are charged with several offences, including conspiracy and cheating.

Special CBI judge Vishal Gogne had held that he has reached a prima facie conclusion that Lalu Prasad was in the complete know of the processes and intervened to influence the transfer of the hotels.

Pronouncing the order on October 13, the judge said "there were material modifications in the tender process... It has emerged as a distinct possibility that at the point of sale, the land parcels were undervalued and then came to be vested in the hands of Lalu Prasad".