A Delhi court on Friday dismissed a plea filed by former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi seeking the transfer of multiple corruption cases against her, her husband and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, their son Tejashwi Yadav, and other family members from Special Judge Vishal Gogne to another judge.
Principal District and Sessions Judge Dinesh Bhatt of the Rouse Avenue Court rejected four transfer petitions, which alleged bias on the part of Judge Gogne. Rabri Devi’s counsel, Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, argued that Judge Gogne was handling the cases with undue haste compared to his other 29 pending matters.
After hearing the arguments of counsel for Rabri Devi, CBI and others at length, the court reserved the order for Friday.
The cases in question involve the alleged land-for-jobs scam during Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tenure as Union Railway Minister (2004-2009), where jobs were purportedly exchanged for land transfers to family members, as well as the IRCTC hotel maintenance scam and related money laundering probes by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate. The proceedings are currently being heard by Principal District and Sessions Judge Dinesh Bhatt.
During arguments, Senior Advocate on behalf of Rabri Devi submitted that they have no faith in the court hearing the case. The lawyer said that bias was “observed, felt, and suffered. Biased is deliberate”.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) strongly opposed the transfer plea, describing it as an attempt to “demean the judge,” “bulldoze the courts,” and delay proceedings. CBI described the transfer plea as “a mala fide attempt by the applicant (Rabri Devi) to hoodwink the court and simply an attempt to not only scandalize the court but also browbeat the special judge (Vishal Gogne), so as to cause direct interference with the independent and fair administration of justice”.
Special Public Prosecutor DP Singh argued that the allegations were defamatory and false, emphasizing that Judge Gogne was following established legal procedures.
Judge Gogne, in a sealed envelope response sought by the court, stated he was conducting the trials strictly in accordance with the law and had no objection to any orders on the transfer application.
The rejection means the cases will continue before Judge Gogne. Separately, on the same day, the court reserved orders on framing charges in one land-for-jobs matter, with a decision scheduled for January 9, 2026.
