Ranchi, January 24: A special CBI court on Wednesday convicted former Bihar chief ministers Lalu Prasad and Jagannath Mishra in one of the cases related to the multi-crore fodder scam. Both of them have been sentenced to five years in jail and fined Rs 5 lakh each in Chaibasa treasury scam case.
The case is related to the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 33.67 crore from Chaibasa treasury in 1992-1993. While the actual sanction amount was Rs 7.10 lakh, it was alleged that Rs 33.67 crore was withdrawn on fake allotment letters. (Also read: Lalu Sentenced to 3.5 Years in Jail: Here’s Timeline of Fodder Scam)
Former Bihar deputy chief minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav said that they will approach higher courts. “People know how BJP, RSS and more importantly Nitish Kumar have conspired against Lalu ji. We will approach higher courts against all these verdicts,” Tejashwi said.
There are 56 accused, including former chief secretary of Jharkhand Sajal Chakraborty. Sajjal was the deputy commissioner of West Singhbhum district when the alleged fraudulent withdrawal had taken place. (Also read: Would Like to Die Than Following BJP’s Directions, Says Lalu Prasad After Fodder Scam Sentencing)
Currently, Lalu is in Birsa Munda Central Jail of Ranchi, after he was awarded a three-and-a-half year sentence on January 6 in a fodder scam relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from Deoghar treasury. He was first convicted in a fodder scam case in 2013 and was awarded five years’ jail term. (Also read: Lalu, Inmate No.3351, Spends Sleepless Night in Jail After Conviction in Fodder Scam)
The 69-year-old Rashtriya Janata Dal president had five cases against him in the Rs 900 crore fodder scam. He was on bail in the first case when he was convicted and sentenced in the second.
Prasad is also an accused in two other fodder scam cases relating to alleged illegal withdrawal of Rs 3.97 crore from Dumka treasury and Rs 184 crore from Doranda treasury.
With inputs from Agencies