HC rejects Lalu bail plea

The Jharkhand High Court today denied bail to RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in connection with one of the Rs1,000 crore fodder scam cases. Lalu has been convicted and jailed by special CBI courts in three cases related to fraudulent withdrawals of money from Deoghar and Chaibasa.

The bench of Justice Apresh Kumar Singh denied bail to Lalu saying that bail could have been considered if he had completed half of his term in prison in the case. The court did not consider the health grounds pleaded by the RJD boss.

Appearing for Lalu, Supreme Court advocate Surendra Singh stated that his client did not have any knowledge of the irregularities conducted by the officials at the lower levels. 

However, he said that whenever such irregularities came into the knowledge of his client, action was taken by him.

The counsel also pleaded that Lalu was suffering from various diseases and he should be given a chance to stay with family for proper care. 

The court, however, denied bail to Lalu considering the case records of lower courts and the amount of sentence he has served in jail.    

Lalu has been convicted and sentenced by Special CBI courts in RC 20A/96, RC64A/96 and RC 68A/96 cases for five, three and half and five years jail terms respectively. The cases related to fraudulent withdrawal of Government funds from Deoghar and Chaibasa treasury.

Yadav alongwith several others was found guilty by a special CBI court in the fodder scam case no RC64A/96 related with fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from Deoghar Treasury between 1991 and 1994.

The RJD chief has also applied for bail in another case (No RC68A/96) relating to Chaibasa Treasury at Jharkhand High court. 

The case will be heard on March 9. Meanwhile, the Special CBI court hearing other cases of fodder scam today issued arrest warrant against Gaya district transport officer and Eta Regional Transport Authority for failing to be present as a witness in the case.