News Analysis India

Tag: Fodder scam

  • Jharkhand HC grants bail to Lalu Yadav in fifth fodder scam case, asks him to deposit Rs 10 lakh

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: Rejecting the arguments given by the CBI, the Jharkhand High Court on Friday granted bail to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, with a pre-condition that he will deposit Rs 10 lakh in the court. Yadav moved the Jharkhand High Court challenging his conviction in fodder scam case RC47A/96, in which he had been awarded a five-year jail term and a fine of Rs 60 lakh by the special CBI Court in Ranchi.

    “The Jharkhand High Court has granted bail to Lalu Yadav on the condition that he will have to deposit a fine of Rs 10 lakh in the court. We had filed bail application on the ground of completing half of the sentencing awarded by the special CBI Court as he has already completed 42 months of sentencing in this case, which was considered by the High Court, and hence it granted bail to him,” said Lalu Yadav’s counsel Prabhat Kumar. The CBI, opposing the bail application, argued that Lalu has not yet completed half of the sentencing awarded by the trail court, which was rejected by the court, he added. Kumar further added that they had attached all the documents in support of his plea that Lalu Yadav has already completed 42 months in jail, along with the certified copies of the orders of the trial court, depicting on which date he was sent to jail and when he came out. Half of the sentencing of Lalu gets completed only after 30 months in jail, he said.

    “Considering the documents provided by us, the court rejected the arguments presented by the CBI and granted bail to our client,” said Advocate Prabhat Kumar. Incidentally, the RJD chief was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court in fodderscam case RC38A/96, related to illegal withdrawal of Rs 3.13 crore from the Dumka Treasury, on April 17, 2021 and was released from jail on April 30, but sent to the jail again after his conviction in RC47A/96 on February 15, 2022.

    The RJD chief, after being convicted in the case on February 15, was sent to jail but shifted to RIMS immediately owing to his poor health condition. As his health deteriorated further, Yadav was shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) – New Delhi. A medical board, constituted to review his health condition, took the decision after his creatinine level further increases from 4.1 to 4.6 at RIMS.

    The RJD chief, said to be a chronic patient of hypertension, diabetes, heart and kidney ailments, is currently lodged at AIIMS – New Delhi.

    Besides RC47A/96 related to Doranda Treasury, Yadav has also been convicted in four other multi-crore fodder scam cases related to Chaibasa Treasury (RC20A/96) on September 30, 2013, another case related to Chaibasa Treasury (RC68A/96) on January 24, 2018, Deoghar Treasury (RC 64A/96) on February 23, 2018 and Dumka Treasury (RC38A/96) on February 19, 2021. He, however, secured bail in all the five cases.

  • Lalu Prasad’s health condition serious but stable: RIMS

    He was sentenced to five years' prison term and slapped with a fine of Rs 60 lakh during the day in connection with the embezzlement of Rs 139 crore from Doranda treasury in the fodder scam.

  • Fodder scam: CBI court convicts Lalu in Rs 139 crore Doranda treasury case

    By PTI

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

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

    The court had on January 29 completed hearing arguments in the case and reserved its verdict.

    Prasad had earlier been sentenced to 14 years in jail in four other fodder scam cases.

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

  • Fodder scam: Lalu Yadav’s counsel demands physical hearing in case instead of virtual hearing

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: Lawyers defending RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the Fodder Scam have filed a petition in the Special CBI Court demanding that the hearing be done in the physical court rather than the ongoing virtual court due to the lockdown.

    “Citing difficulties in putting their points in virtual mode, lawyers engaged by Lalu Yadav have filed a petition in the Special CBI Court of S.K.Shashi demanding that the hearing may be done in physical mode rather than doing it in virtual mode,” CBI advocate BMP Singh was quoted as saying.

    The prosecution has been asked to file a rejoinder by August 11, the next date of hearing, he added.

    Notably, Lalu Prasad so far has been convicted in four out of the five cases related to multi-crore fodder scam cases related to Chaibasa Treasury (RC20A/96) on September 30, 2013, another Chaibasa Treasury (RC68A/96) on January 24, 2018, Deoghar Treasury (RC 64A/96) on February 23, 2018, and Dumka Treasury (RC38A/96) on February 1. Whereas, RC 47A/96, related to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 139.35 crore from Doranda treasury in Ranchi, is still pending in a Special CBI Court in Ranchi.

    The number of accused persons, in this case, includes RJD chief Lalu Prasad, former parliamentarian Jagdish Sharma, Dr. R.K.Rana, the then chairman of the public accounts committee, Dhruv Bhagat and other officials of the animal husbandry department. Lalu Yadav is currently on bail in all four cases in which he was convicted by different CBI Courts in Ranchi.

  • Game on, Bihar!: Lalu Prasad Yadav’s bail means sleepless nights ahead for Nitish government?

    Express News Service
    PATNA: After a long time, politics in Bihar is speculated to get a new turn with the release of imprisoned RJD chief Lalu Prasad. He was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court in connection with the multi-crore fodder scam. 

    Known for turning the applecart of politics without giving an iota of hint to opponent, Lalu Prasad might pretend to remain ‘silent’ or ‘less-active’ in politics after return to Patna. But his political- intelligence cannot remain idle in the present context of Bihar politics. The former Chief Minister is a great political mathematician, adroit in political, what local analysts call, ‘Jor-Ghatao’ (addition and subtraction). He has acquired mastery in politics over how a subject can be converted into an issue of people.

    READ HERE: RJD upbeat as Lalu Prasad Yadav set to walk out of jail after Jharkhand HC grants bail

    Amid the surging COVID-19 crisis, how the news of Lalu Prasad’s release has brought gloom on the face of NDA leaders was evident. While the supporters of RJD supremo exhibited their jubilation, CM Nitish Kumar feigned ignorance on the matter and said, ‘Mujhe nahi malum hai. Chalo ye sab hote rahata hai’, (I have not come to know it. It keeps happening), while coming out from an all-party meet on Saturday.

    “Ab khela hobe Bihar me’ (Now game will happen in Bihar), was what Kedar Yadav-a die-hard supporter of Lalu Prasad jokingly expressed in jubilation. Bihar’s political corridors went pondering and predicting as to whether there will be a change in the political air of the state after he comes out of jail. Bihar’s many political pundits started predicting ‘something unusual’ to take place, maybe not sooner but certainly later.

    Many feel the return of Lalu may fall like a hammer on the stability of the ruling NDA government. “Even if Lalu Prasad’s silence may result into a twist in politics,giving hard times to Nitish Kumar- led government, which is surviving on the supports of two smaller allies”, said Ashok Kumar Mishra, a political commentator at Patna.

    When asked if political equations change in Bihar if Lalu Prasad Yadav comes out on bail, veteran political analyst and former director of AN Sinha Institute of Social Sciences DM Diwakar said: “Since Lalu Prasad is still considered as a leader of mass, his words and statements in politics are taken seriously by large sections of people and his political manoeuvring is well known to his all opponents”.

    It may be possible that due to his poor health, Lalu Prasad may not play from the front but his strategies will help the RJD in giving sleepless night to NDA. A tweet of Lalu’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav: “The messiah of poor, deprived and downtrodden people are coming out, Tell those who do injustice, our leader is coming”, speaks a lot of what is next on the agenda of RJD after Lalu’s return.

    Many political experts, who know Lalu’s political strategies, said that arrogant bureaucracy, COVID-crisis, prohibition and unemployment may be fanned to move the people against the ruling side. In state like Bihar, the growing anger against irresponsible bureaucrats can be used against the government by the RJD.

    ALSO READ | RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav granted bail, likely to get out of jail soon

    Dr RK Verma, acclaimed political analyst and honorary secretary of Bihar chapter of Indian Institute of Political administration, said:” Lalu’s appearance after being out on bail will strengthen the political forces-OBCs led by Yadav and Muslims. His presence will certainly be enough to sharpen the RJD’s further strategies against ruling alliance more aggressively”.

    For the last three decades, Lalu Prasad has been the axis of Bihar politics. But for RJD supporters, it was the sacred Saturday that proved lucky for bail to Lalu Prasad. Tejashwi Yadav, leader of opposition and Lalu’s younger son said that the bail to RJD chief was a victory of justice and reaffirms the trust of people in the judiciary. “But we will act as per the advice of doctors who are taking care of him in AIIMS”, he said.

    Sources said that either on Tuesday or Wednesday, Lalu Prasad will come out from judicial custody completing all legal formalities. “If doctors allow, he may come to Patna or otherwise continue under safe treatment in AIIMS”, said RJD sources.

  • RJD supporters in Patna elated after Lalu Prasad Yadav gets bail in fodder scam

    Express News Service
    PATNA: After a long time, festive cheers prevailed on Saturday at the official residence of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav in Patna after news arrived about the bail granted by the Jharkhand HC in connection with the Dumka treasury case in the fodder scam.

    “It’s a sacred Saturday for us on which our ‘bhagwan’ has been granted bail. Sweets are sweeter than ever before us,” an elated Manoj Kumar said here.

    Shivanand Tiwari, senior leader of RJD who is considered close to Lalu’s family, said all of Bihar welcomes the bail amid reports from various districts of supporters distributing sweets.

    Chitaranjan Gagan, RJD spokesperson, said the bail to the party supremo will embolden the political morale of supporters, who have been waiting for it, trusting in the judiciary.

    Lalu’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav tweeted that the messiah of the downtrodden is coming to take care of them. “Garibo, banchito aur pichharo ka rahnuma aa raha hai”, he tweeted.

    Meanwhile, some political observers here said that politics in Bihar will certainly get a new twist after Lalu Prasad returns to the state.

  • Fodder scam: RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav granted bail, likely to get out of jail soon

    Express News Service
    RANCHI: In a major relief to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Jharkhand HC on Saturday granted him bail in the fodder scam case RC 38A/96, related to illegal withdrawal Rs 3.13 crore from Dumka Treasury, on the grounds of completing half of his sentencing.

    After his bail application on February 19 was rejected as he fell short by one month and 17 days in completing half of his sentence, Yadav once again had approached the court seeking bail in the case.

    “Since half of the sentencing had already been completed in Dumka treasury case, the court allowed the bail application filed by Lalu ji. Despite the opposition by CBI counsel, the court turned down their arguments saying that they can raise their points during the final appeal,” said Yadav’s advocate Anant Kumar Vij. It is expected that he will come out of jail within a week as it will take some time to fulfil all the formalities, he added.

    According to the advocate, Yadav has been asked to furnish two bail bonds of Rs 1 lakh each in the lower court.

    “In addition to that, he will have to deposit his passport to the lower court and cannot go out of the country without permission of the court,” said the advocate. Lalu ji has also been asked not to change his address without any prior information to the court, he added.

    After being convicted by a Special CBI Court in Ranchi on December 23, 2017, in the second fodder scam case involving the illegal withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from Deoghar treasury, the RJD chief was lodged in Birsa Munda Central jail in Ranchi but was shifted to RIMS on August 29, 2018, due to his deteriorating health condition.

    The 72-year-old, after being diagnosed with symptoms of pneumonia, was shifted to AIIMS in January this year on the recommendation of an eight-member medical board, set up to look into his health condition. Yadav is also a chronic patient of hypertension, diabetes, heart and kidney ailments.

    Yadav, so far, has been convicted in four out of the five cases related to multi-crore fodder scam cases related to Chaibasa Treasury (RC20A/96) on September 30, 2013, another Chaibasa Treasury (RC68A/96) on January 24, 2018, Deoghar Treasury (RC 64A/96) on February 23, 2018 and Dumka Treasury (RC38A/96) on February 19.

    RC 47A/96, related to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 139.35 crore from Doranda treasury in Ranchi, is still pending in a Special CBI Court in Ranchi. The RJD chief has already secured bail in the Deoghar Treasury (RC 64A/96), Chaibasa Treasury (RC 68A/96) and another Chaibasa Treasury (RC20A/96) related case.

  • Lalu Prasad Yadav’s bail plea in fodder scam postponed by a week

    Express News Service
    RANCHI: The hearing for the bail application of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the fodder scam related to Dumka treasury was deferred by a week on Friday after the CBI sought time to file a counter-affidavit for the plea of defense counsel.

    The bail application was filed in Jharkhand High Court on the grounds of completion of half of his sentence.

    On February 19 this year, the court had rejected the same as the RJD chief had falled short by 17 days to complete half of his sentencing.

    After completing the said period in jail, the RJD chief once again sought bail in the court. 

    “Even as my client completed a month and 17 days today according to the court’s order of February 19, we approached it seeking bail. But the CBI sought one more week to file a counter-affidavit in the case. The CBI, however, has allowed three days for filing the counter-affidavit pushing the next date of hearing toApril 16,” RJD Chief’s advocate Prabhat Kumar said.

    Notably, after being convicted by a Special CBI Court in Ranchi on December 23, 2017, in the second fodder scam case involving the illegal withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from Deoghar treasury, the RJD Chief was lodged in Birsa Munda Central jail in Ranchi. However, he had to be shifted to RIMS on August 29, 2018, after his health started deteriorating.

    The 72-year RJD Chief, after being diagnosed with symptoms of pneumonia, was shifted to AIIMS in January this year on the recommendation of an eight-member medical board, set up to look into his health conditions. Yadav is also a chronic patient of hypertension, diabetes, heart and kidney ailments.

    Yadav, so far, has been convicted in four out of the five cases related to multi-crore fodder scam cases related to Chaibasa Treasury (RC20A/96) on September 30, 2013, another Chaibasa Treasury (RC68A/96) on January 24, 2018, Deoghar Treasury (RC 64A/96) on February 23, 2018 and Dumka Treasury (RC38A/96) on February 19.

    RC 47A/96, related to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 139.35 crore from Doranda treasury in Ranchi, is still pending in a Special CBI Court in Ranchi. The RJD Chief has already secured bail in Deoghar Treasury (RC 64A/96), Chaibasa Treasury (RC 68A/96) and another Chaibasa Treasury (RC20A/96) related case.

  • Fodder scam: Lalu Prasad Yadav moves Jharkhand HC again, seeking bail in Dumka treasury case

    Express News Service
    RANCHI: RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, once again, has approached Jharkhand High Court seeking bail in fodder scam case RC 38A/96 related to illegal withdrawal Rs 3.13 crore from Dumka Treasury on the ground of completing half of his sentencing.

    Earlier on February 19, the Jharkhand HC had turned down his bail application as he fell short by nearly two months in completing half of his sentencing.

    “A bail application has been filed in the Jharkhand High Court in Dumka treasury case on the ground of completing half of his sentencing. Last time, he fell short by two months,” his advocate Devarshi Mandal was quoted as saying.  As two months’ time has already been passed, a fresh bail application has been moved in the Court, he added.

    Notably, after being convicted by a Special CBI Court in Ranchi on December 23, 2017, in the second fodder scam case involving the illegal withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from Deoghar treasury, the RJD Cheif was lodged in Birsa Munda Central jail in Ranchi but was shifted to RIMS on August 29, 2018, looking at his deteriorating health conditions.

    The 72-year RJD Chief, after being diagnosed with symptoms of pneumonia, was shifted to AIIMS in January this year on the recommendation of an eight-member medical board, set up to look into his health conditions. Yadav is also a patient of hypertension, diabetes, heart and kidney ailments.

    Yadav, so far, has been convicted in four out of the five cases related to multi-crore fodder scam cases related to Chaibasa Treasury (RC20A/96) on September 30, 2013, another Chaibasa Treasury (RC68A/96) on January 24, 2018, Deoghar Treasury (RC 64A/96) on February 23, 2018 and Dumka Treasury (RC38A/96) on February 19.

    RC 47A/96, related to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 139.35 crore from Doranda treasury in Ranchi, is still pending in a Special CBI Court in Ranchi. The RJD Chief has already secured bail in in Deoghar Treasury (RC 64A/96), Chaibasa Treasury (RC 68A/96) and another Chaibasa Treasury (RC20A/96) related case.

  • Fodder Scam: Jail authorities seek report on health conditions of Lalu Yadav from AIIMS

    By Express News Service
    RANCHI: In a move to bring jailed RJD Chief Lalu Yadav back to Ranchi, Birsa Munda Central Jail Superintendent has sought a report about the health conditions of RJD Chief Lalu Yadav from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director. 

    According to jail IG Virendra Bhushan, an appropriate decision, whether Yadav will be lodged in jail or admitted again to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) will be taken, as per the report given by AIIMS. 

    Notably, the 72-year RJD Chief, after being diagnosed with symptoms of pneumonia, was shifted to AIIMS in January this year on the recommendation of an eight-member medical board, set up to look into his health conditions. Yadav is also suffering from hypertension, diabetes, heart and kidney ailments.

    “The letter has been written by the jail Superintendent seeking a report over the actual health conditions of Lalu Yadav. If AIIMS doctors allow he will be sent to jail but, if they recommend keeping him under the observation of doctors, then he will he admitted to RIMS again,” said Jail IG Virendra Bhushan.

    He, however, said that the jail authorities are yet to receive any reply from AIIMS.

    After being convicted by a Special CBI Court in Ranchi on December 23, 2017, in the second fodder scam case involving the illegal withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from Deoghar treasury, the RJD chief was lodged in Birsa Munda Central jail in Ranchi but was shifted to RIMS on August 29, 2018, looking at his deteriorating health conditions.

    Prasad, so far, has been convicted in four out of the five cases related to multi-crore fodder scam cases related to Chaibasa Treasury (RC20A/96) on September 30, 2013, another Chaibasa Treasury (RC68A/96) on January 24, 2018, Deoghar Treasury (RC 64A/96) on February 23, 2018 and Dumka Treasury (RC38A/96) on February 19.