Bihar Chief Secy, 6 others accused in fodder case

Special CBI Court of Shivpal Singh on Tuesday issued summons to seven persons, including Bihar Chief Secretary (CS) and the then Deputy Commissioner of Dumka Anjani Kumar Singh under Section 319 of CrPC also making them accused in fodder scam case RC38A/96 related to Dumka Treasury. All the seven persons have been asked to appear before the Court on March 28.

Incidentally, Singh was given service extension for a period of three months last month before his retirement on February 28.

Other persons against whom the summon has been issued include the then Finance Secretary Vijay Shankar Dubey, CBI witness and supplier Deepesh Chandak, former DGP of Bihar and the then ADG (Vigilance) DP Ojha, the then Investigating Officer Inspector (CBI) AK Jha, suppliers Shiv Kumar Patwari and Phool Jha, who were later made CBI witnesses. 

“They have been issued summons by the court saying that all the seven persons also have their involvement in the scam and have been saved by the CBI,” said an advocate requesting anonymity. The court has the power to issue summons under section 319 of CrPC during the trial if it finds any evidence against any other persons who have been made accused in the case, he added.

Remarkably, the same Court had also summoned Ojha in connection with the  fodder scam case related to Deoghar Treasury against which the High Court has passed a stay order. 

Meanwhile, the Court has also put aside the record of supplier Anand Kumar Gutgutia against whom Rajendra Kumar Bageria had said that he had been framed wrongfully by the CBI. Bageria was only a staff at Krishna Road Carrier while Gutgutia was the proprietor of the firm. Bageria said that the CBI saved the proprietor and framed the staff. The matter is pending in the High Court after a revision petition was filed by Bageria. 

Remarkably, the Special CBI Court is likely to pronounce judgment in RC38A/96, case involving 31 accused persons, including RJD Chief Lalu Prasad and former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra on March 15.