VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Feb. 15: The special CBI court of Sudhanshu Kumar Shashi in Ranchi on Tuesday convicted former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in a fodder scam case RC 47 A/96 related to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 139.35 Crores from Doranda treasury of Ranchi during 1995-96.
There were 99 accused facing trial in this case out of which the court found 24 persons not guilty of the crime while the rest including Lalu Prasad Yadav were convicted. The court fixed February 21 to pronounce the quantum of punishment.
The court found him guilty under provisions of IPC and Prevention of the Corruption Act.
“This is unfortunate. Lalu Prasad is the messiah of the poor and downtrodden. The judgment has left them disappointed. We will surely move to the upper court to get justice. There were indirect charges against him and it is not possible for a chief minister to keep a tab on withdrawal in every district treasury,” said RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddique who accompanied Lalu Prasad in the court.
Ahead of the judgment, Lalu Prasad who was staying as the state guest at Morhabadi, reached the court around 11. 15 AM after which the court proceeding started. His daughter and MP Misa Bharti also accompanied him in Ranchi.
The court campus was jampacked with RJD leaders and workers. They said that Lalu Prasad Yadav has become very old and he is suffering from various ailments hence the court should show leniency.
This is the fifth fodder scam case where Lalu Prasad Yadav was convicted. Currently, he was on bail in all these four cases. The CBI alleged him as the kingpin of Rs 950 crore fodder scam case that rocked Bihar.
The CBI had booked 170 persons. But the number of accused facing trial is 99 because many died, some turned approvers, some are absconding or pleaded guilty. Among the accused 55 died, eight became approvers, six are absconding and two pleaded guilty. The CBI produced 575 witnesses and a bulk of documents as evidence.
