HC extends Lalu’s provisional bail till July 3

The Jharkhand High Court on Friday extended the provisional bail of RJD chief Lalu Prasad till July 3 on the grounds of his poor health condition. The provisional bail, granted by the high court to the former Bihar Chief Minister on health grounds was due to lapse on June 27.

Lalu’s advocate Prabhat Kumar said that a single bench of Acting Chief Justice DN Patel extended the bail as his client has to undergo surgery. The court then posted the matter to be heard on June 28 by the regular bench.

“Many tests were conducted at the heart institute in Mumbai and reports showed that several parameters were not good. He is suffering from diabetes, heart blockage, kidney stone, fistula and other ailments. The doctors have given him medicine to control blood sugar,” said Lalu’s counsel.

“Once the sugar is controlled, he will be operated for fistula. Later after he recovers and all body parameters are controlled doctors may go for heart surgery,” he added giving details of the health condition of Lalu.

The RJD chief was lodged in Birsa Munda Central Jail after having been convicted and sentenced for fraudulent withdrawal of funds from Dumka, Deoghar and Chibasa treasuries. He has been behind the bars since December 23, 2017 after his conviction in a fodder scam case related to Dumka treasury.

Later, he was shifted to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi on March 17 after he complained of several health issues. On the basis of a medical board at RIMS, the court later allowed him to be taken to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for better treatment. He was again brought to RIMS on May 1.

In April this year he had appealed to the High Court seeking 3-month bail for treatment. The High Court on May 11 granted six weeks’ bail to him on health grounds. The former Railway Minister was taken to Asian Heart Hospital in Mumbai for treatment of his kidney and heart-related problems on May 23.