Lalu Yadav Family Hit By IRCTC Scam Charges Just Weeks Before Bihar Polls | Corruption Storm Brews

In a major blow to the RJD ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, a Delhi court has framed serious criminal charges against Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and son Tejashwi Yadav in the long-running IRCTC hotel scam case. Special Judge Vishal Gogne ruled there was sufficient evidence to proceed to trial, accusing Lalu of corruption, criminal conspiracy, and cheating during his time as Railway Minister. Rabri and Tejashwi face charges of conspiracy and cheating. All three have pleaded not guilty, setting the stage for a fierce courtroom showdown. The CBI's probe reveals how Lalu allegedly misused his position to lease prime IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri to a favored firm, in exchange for undervalued land deals funneled to family-linked companies. Adding to the drama, Lalu appeared in court in a wheelchair—despite being spotted briskly walking earlier that morning—sparking widespread speculation. The BJP has pounced on the development, slamming the Lalu family for "betraying Bihar's poor" and vowing electoral backlash. Meanwhile, Congress cries foul, labeling the charges a "pre-election BJP conspiracy" to hobble the opposition. With Lalu already under scrutiny in the separate Land-for-Jobs scandal—where railway jobs were allegedly traded for land—these fresh allegations could derail RJD's campaign momentum. As Bihar's polls heat up, this corruption saga underscores the high-stakes drama on the road to Patna. Will it sink the Yadavs, or fuel their fightback? Watch for full details, reactions, and what it means for the elections.