LALU PRASAD YADAV vs CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Judgment text excerpt

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Reserved on: 19th January, 2026 Pronounced on: 24th March, 2026 + W.P.(CRL) 1845/2025 LALU PRASAD YADAV .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Kapil Sibal, Mr. Maninder Singh, Senior Advocates with Mr. Varun Jain, Mr. Navin Kumar, Mr. Sumit Singh, Ms. Aekta Vats, Ms. Aparajita Jamwal, Ms. Janvi Narang and Mr. Satish Kumar, Advocates. versus CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION .....Respondent Through: Mr. S.V. Raju, ASG with Mr. D.P. Singh, ASG and SPP with Mr. Manu Mishra, Ms. Garima Saxena, Mr. Imaan Khera, Ms. Shreya Dutt, Mr. Samrat Goswami, Mr. Hitarth Raja, Ms. Aditi Andley, Advocates with Insp. Ramendra Diiman. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAVINDER DUDEJA JUDGMENT RAVINDER DUDEJA, J. 1. This is a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India read with Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 [“Cr. PC”] for quashing of FIR No. RC2202022E0007 under sections 120- B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 [“IPC”] read with Sections 11, 12, 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 [“PC W.P.(CRL) 1845/2025 Page 1 of 23 Signature Not Verified Signed By:VAISHALI PRUTHI Signing Date:24.03.2026 17:38 Act” or “the Act”] (pre-2018 amendment) dated 18.05.2022 and charge sheets dated 07.10.2022, 01.07.2023 and 07.06.2024, filed in FIR/RC and also the quashing of the cognizance orders dated 27.02.2023, 22.09.2023 and 25.02.2025 along with consequential orders passed by learned Special Judge (PC Act). Brief facts of the case: 2. A preliminary enquiry (PE No. 220/2021/E0002) was registered by CBI, EOU-IV, New Delhi on 23.09.2021 concerning alleged irregular appointments of Substitutes in Group-D posts in various Zonal Railways during the period 2004-2009. It was alleged that unknown public servants of the Indian Railways