A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Court in Ranchi has sentenced former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and others to three-and-a-half years of jail and been fined Rs. 5 lakh relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from the Deoghar Treasury 21 years ago.
The sentence was supposed to be pronounced on 3 January but has repeatedly been getting rescheduled. The Special CBI Court Judge Shivpal Singh had told PTI on 4 January that he was getting phone calls from Lalu’s men.
The special CBI court had on 23 December pronounced the RJD chief guilty in the Rs 900 crore fodder scam case. A total of 15 people, including Lalu, were convicted in the 20-year-old case. Seven people, including former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra, were declared innocent.
Lalu Prasad is at present lodged in Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi.
- A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Court in Ranchi has sentenced former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and others to 3.5 years of jail and been fined Rs. 5 lakh.
- The sentencing has repeatedly been getting postponed. “Got phone calls from Lalu’s men,” said the judge on 4 January
- The judge had also told Lalu Yadav, “I got many references for you, but don’t worry. I will only follow the law”
- The trial was completed on 13 December in the special CBI court and Lalu was convicted on 23 December
- “I have no role in this scam directly; consider minimum punishment keeping in view my age and health grounds,” Lalu said in his plea before the Ranchi court
Enroute to Jail, Lalu Slams BJP and Says "Will Die" for "Social Justice"
Will go to the High Court: Tejashwi Yadav
In the aftermath of the Ranchi court sentencing Lalu Prasad Yadav to 3.5 years in jail, his son Tejashwi Yadav said “the judiciary performed its duty. We will go to the High Court after studying the sentence and apply for a bail.” He also said,
We are confident that he’ll get bail. We’re not going to be cowed down.
Lalu Prasad Yadav Sentenced to 3.5 Years in Jail, Fined 5 Lakh
RJD chief Lalu Prasad was today sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail by a CBI special court in a fodder scam case relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from the Deoghar Treasury 21 years ago. Prasad was the chief minister of Bihar at the time.
CBI court judge Shiv Pal Singh, who had convicted Prasad, along with 10 others on December 23, also imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on him for two cases in the scam.
He was fined Rs 5 lakh for each case, failing which he would serve another six months in jail, a CBI counsel said.
The court had convicted Prasad for offences of cheating, along with criminal conspiracy, under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Judge Says 'Open Jail is Best for Convicts'; Sentence Expected at 4 PM
Speaking at the court proceedings, the judge said “an open jail is best for the convicts, as they also have experience of cow farming.”