Fodder scam case: RJD chief Lalu Prasad convicted by special CBI court, sentence on 3rd January
AMN /Ranchi
A special CBI court today convicted Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad in a fodder scam case related to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89.4 lakhs from the Deoghar treasury in the 1992-1994 period.
The court of special CBI judge Shivpal Singh convicted Lalu Prasad and 14 others in case number RC64A/96. Ex-Chief Minister of undivided Bihar and Congress veteran Jagannath Mishra was, however, acquitted.
The CBI court in Ranchi pronounces its judgment a short while ago in fodder scam case in which the RJD chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra are key accused. The RJD chief has already been convicted in another fodder scam case that cost him his Lok Sabha seat and his disqualification from contesting elections.
A charge sheet was filed against 38 persons on October 27, 1997. A CBI official said, eleven of them died and three turned approvers while two other accused confessed to their crime and were convicted in 2006-07.
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A charge sheet was filed against 38 persons on October 27, 1997. Eleven of them died and three turned approvers while two other accused confessed and were convicted in 2006-07, a CBI official said.
Now that the Congress has received a sigh of relief in 2G spectrum scam and Adarsh Society Scam, it remains to be seen whether the Rahul Gandhi-led party will continue its alliance with RJD.
A series of tweets have come in from Lalu Yadav after the verdict that say, “Truth can be made to appear as a lie, as ambiguous or a half lie by concerted onslaught of bias driven propaganda. But blurred layer of bias and hatred will still be removed, come what may! In end Truth will win.”
“A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. ….But still prevails…In the end though.”
Lalu Prasad Yadav
✔
@laluprasadrjd
Truth can be made to appear as a lie, as ambiguous or a half lie by concerted onslaught of bias driven propaganda. But blurred layer of bias and hatred will still be removed, come what may! In end Truth will win
Even as the verdict in fodder scam case was to be pronounced on Saturday afternoon, prime accused RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s entire family was busy seeking divine intervention to secure “justice” for him.
Lalu Prasad’s wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, known for her religious leanings, had organised a special ‘puja’ at her official residence in Patna.
Lalu’s Prasad’s elder son Tej Pratap, a former Health Minister, visited a temple early Saturday morning to pray for his father. Lalu’s daughters, including Misa Bharti who is an RJD Rajya Sabha MP, also offered prayers and participated in religious rituals.
Security has since been tightened around the residence of Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi here in view of the judgment.
The former Union Minister told the media on Friday evening before leaving for Ranchi along with younger son Tejashwi Yadav, who is Leader of Opposition in Bihar assembly, that he would get a “clean chit” like those in the 2G spectrum and Adarsh housing society cases.
“We trust and respect the judiciary. We will not let the Bharatiya Janata Party’s conspiracies work,” the RJD leader said.
The hearing in the fodder scam case was completed on December 13 by the Ranchi court. Special CBI Judge Shivapal Singh then fixed December 23 for pronouncing judgment and asked all accused to remain present in the courtroom.
In all, of the 34 accused, 11 died during the trial, while one turned CBI approver.
Lalu Prasad and another former Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra have been convicted in an fodder scam case earlier and are out on bail.
The trial in two other cases is going on in the special CBI court here.
WITH inputs from agencies