Ranchi: Three goats have been taken to Kelly’s Bungalow, a sprawling duplex on the Rajendra Institute on Medical Sciences (Rims) campus, for incarcerated RJD president Lalu Prasad to sacrifice on Mahanavami on Sunday. The former Bihar CM has been detained at the bungalow, the vacant official residence of the Rims director, since August, when he was shifted from the hospital’s paying ward to protect him from Covid infection.
Lalu’s close aide Irfan was photographed taking the goats to Kelly’s Bungalow on Thursday evening. A security personnel posted outside the bungalow said, “We were surprised when the goats were brought in. We were told that Laluji will sacrifice them as part of the rituals on Mahanavami as it would be auspicious ahead of the assembly polls in Bihar, which will begin in less than a week.”
In another violation of the jail manual, RJD functionary Syed Ali posted pictures of his meeting with Lalu at Kelly’s Bungalow on social media on Friday. As per norms, only three visitors are only allowed to meet prisoners on Saturday. Notably, an official from the Birsa Munda central jail had visited Kelly’s Bungalow on Thursday afternoon and expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements in place.
IG (Prisons) Virendra Bhushan said: “I do not know of any such developments (goats and unauthorized visitors). However, even in there have been any violation of prison norms, we have no role to play as Rims authorities have declared the bungalow as a special ward for Lalu’s treatment.” When contacted, Rims PRO Dr Nishit M Paul Ekka, said: “We have no information pertaining to the meeting between Lalu Prasad and Syed Ali. However, as per the rules, it is illegal to sacrifice any animal on the hospital premises.”
Criticising the state administration on Friday, BJP said that the jail manual was being flouted for Lalu’s convenience. BJP state spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo said: “No one is allowed to click a picture with a prisoner. No prisoner is allowed to have any kind of political discussion and an assistant jailer-rank official has to accompany a visitor meeting an inmate. RJD leaders are visiting Lalu Prasad on a daily basis and posting pictures with him on social media. It seems that the Kelly’s Bungalow has become RJD’s election office.”