UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Delhi HC refuses to stay trial against Lalu Prasad

Q1. In the IRCTC Hotel Scam case in which the Delhi High Court (January 2026) refused to stay the trial, who is named as the principal/lead accused?

  • A. Tejashwi Prasad Yadav
  • B. Lalu Prasad Yadav
  • C. Rabri Devi
  • D. Prem Chand Gupta

Q2. Which of the following central agencies is investigating and prosecuting the IRCTC Hotel Scam case in which the Delhi High Court (January 2026) refused to stay the trial?

  • A. Enforcement Directorate (ED)
  • B. Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO)
  • C. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
  • D. Central Vigilance Commission (CVC)

Q3. With reference to the IRCTC Hotel Scam case and the Railways Land-for-Jobs case (both in news 2025-2026), consider the following statements: 1. Both cases relate to alleged offences during Lalu Prasad's tenure as Union Railways Minister (2004-2009). 2. Charges in the IRCTC Hotel Scam case were framed by the Delhi trial court in 2025, whereas charges in the Land-for-Jobs case were framed only in 2026. 3. The Enforcement Directorate is the investigating agency in both cases. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Both cases relate to alleged offences during Lalu Prasad's tenure as Union Railways Minister (2004-2009).
  2. Charges in the IRCTC Hotel Scam case were framed by the Delhi trial court in 2025, whereas charges in the Land-for-Jobs case were framed only in 2026.
  3. The Enforcement Directorate is the investigating agency in both cases.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. In October 2025, the Delhi trial court framed charges in the IRCTC Hotel Scam case (in which the Delhi High Court subsequently refused, in January 2026, to stay the trial). How many accused in total had charges framed against them by the trial court?

  • A. 12
  • B. 13
  • C. 14
  • D. 16

Q5. The charges framed in October 2025 against Lalu Prasad and others in the IRCTC Hotel Scam case — the trial whose stay was refused by the Delhi High Court in January 2026 — were invoked under which of the following statutory combinations?

  • A. Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 alone
  • B. Indian Penal Code (Sections 420 and 120B) read with the Prevention of Corruption Act
  • C. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 read with the Companies Act, 2013
  • D. Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988 read with the Prevention of Corruption Act