The leasing of Deccan Odyssey, the luxury train commissioned by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), to a subsidiary of private operator Thomas Cook has now come under the Bombay High Court’s scanner.

Division Bench of Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and A M Khanwilkar on Thursday sought a reply from MTDC over the allegations made in a PIL that no tenders were invited while sub-leasing the luxury train and regarding its alleged re-routing. MTDC has been asked to reply within a week.

The Bench also observed that operation of the lease would be subject to final orders in the petition.

MTDC had launched the Deccan Odyssey in 2003, which touched the major tourist destinations of the state including Ajanta-Elora, with a view to attracting domestic and foreign tourists.

As per the petition filed by Harshad Gawde, a private tour operator from Vengurla, the train has now been leased to Luxury Travels, which has sub-leased it to Travel Corporation of India, a Thomas Cook subsidiary. He alleged that no tenders were invited while leasing the luxury train.

The PIL further says the train was introduced by MTDC with a funding from both the state and the Centre to promote tourism in Maharashtra. But the new route of the train — now renamed as Indian Maharaja — would cover Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, and not the tourist spots in Maharashtra, it alleged.

The state government has invested Rs 14 lakh in the train, the PIL says. The court adjourned the hearing for a week.