VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Feb. 15: The special CBI court of Sudhanshu Kumar Shashi in Ranchi which convicted former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad in fodder scam case RC 47 A/96 has rejected his petition to refer him to RIMS on the ground of his poor health.
The court said that the jail administration of the Birsa Munda Central Jail will have to make a decision whether Lalu Prasad should be sent to RIMS or not.
It means Lalu Prasad will have to stay behind the bars of the Birsa Munda Central Jail till the jail administration decides this matter.
On Tuesday morning the special CBI court held 75 out of 99 accused guilty of the scam which is related to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 139.35 crores from Doranda treasury of Ranchi during 1995-96.
Lalu Prasad moved a petition before the court and pleaded that he should be shifted to RIMS owing to his age and the health problems he has been facing. His lawyer said Lalu Prasad is suffering from multiple diseases hence he needs constant medical care.
During the hearing of this matter in the second half, the court rejected his plea. However, the RIMS administration arranged a paying ward A 11 in case the court referred him.
Barring a few periods, on previous occasions, when Lalu Prasad was convicted in fodder scam cases he spent most of his time in judicial custody either at paying wards at RIMS or the sprawling bungalow of RIMS’ director.
