Overview
- Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued notice on Lalu Prasad Yadav’s challenge to the charge‑framing order and asked the CBI to file its reply.
- The matter is listed for January 14, keeping the October 13, 2025 trial court order in effect as proceedings continue.
- The trial court had framed common charges under IPC sections 120B and 420 and section 13(2) read with 13(1)(d)(ii) and (iii) of the Prevention of Corruption Act against 14 accused.
- Accused include Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, Tejashwi Yadav, Vijay and Vinay Kochhar, and related entities such as LARA Projects and Sujata Hotels.
- CBI alleges IRCTC tenders for BNR hotels in Ranchi and Puri were manipulated to favour Sujata Hotels in a quid pro quo involving undervalued Patna land, with the trial court calling the transactions possibly an instance of crony capitalism.