Fodder Scam Case: Lalu Prasad Yadav convicted in fodder scam case

A particular CBI court docket on Tuesday convicted Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad within the Rs 139.5 crore Doranda treasury embezzlement case.

The quantum of punishment will probably be pronounced on February 18, a CBI counsel mentioned.

The court docket had on January 29 accomplished listening to arguments in case and reserved its verdict. Prasad had earlier been sentenced to 14 years in jail in 4 different fodder rip-off circumstances.

“Lalu Prasad has been convicted. The quantum of punishment will probably be pronounced on February 18,” the CBI counsel mentioned.

The court docket of Particular CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) Decide S Ok Shashi had accomplished the listening to towards 99 accused together with Prasad, which was underway since February final 12 months.

Arguments on behalf of the final accused, Dr Shailendra Kumar, had been accomplished on January 29. All of the accused had been ordered to be bodily current within the court docket on the day of the decision.

Of the unique 170 accused within the case, 55 have died, seven have turn into authorities witnesses, two have accepted the costs towards them and 6 are absconding.

Other than Prasad, former MP Jagdish Sharma, the then Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Dhruv Bhagat, Animal Husbandry Secretary Beck Julius and Animal Husbandry Assistant Director Dr Ok M Prasad are the principle accused.

The Rs 950-crore rip-off pertains to fraudulent withdrawal of public funds from authorities treasuries in numerous districts of undivided Bihar.

The RJD supremo, who has been sentenced to 14 years in jail and slapped with a complete high quality of Rs 60 lakh, has secured bail within the 4 circumstances associated to Dumka, Deoghar and Chaibasa treasuries.

The fodder rip-off got here to mild in January 1996 after a raid on the Animal Husbandry Division. The CBI named Prasad as an accused in June 1997. The company framed prices towards Prasad and former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra.

In September 2013, the trial court docket convicted Prasad, Mishra and 45 others in one of many circumstances associated to the fodder rip-off and Prasad was imprisoned in Ranchi jail.

In December 2013, Supreme Court docket granted bail to Prasad within the case whereas in December 2017, CBI court docket discovered him and 15 others responsible and despatched them to Birsa Munda jail.

Jharkhand Excessive Court docket granted bail to Prasad in April 2021.