CBI court finds fresh fodder against Lalu
Railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s problems seem to be multiplying in the Bihar fodder scam set of cases.
By Ashok K Mishra, TNN |
PATNA: Railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s problems seem to be multiplying in the Bihar fodder scam set of cases.
A day after the Patna High Court held as maintainable under law the state government’s appeal challenging the acquittal of the Rabri-Lalu duo in the disproportionate assets case (an offshoot of the fodder scam case), the Ranchi CBI court on Friday made out a prima facie case against Mr Yadav in yet another fodder scam-related case, in which he was not even made an accused by the CBI. The special CBI court in Ranchi has summoned the RJD president for appearing before the court on 23 November.
The Ranchi CBI court in its order in the fodder scam case number RC 39 (A)/96 maintained that “from the evidence of prosecution witness it is fully corroborated and clarified from the defence witness of Mahendra Prasad, who has disclosed many material facts against Lalu Prasad in course of his cross examination, that he was paid Rs 4 crore and was regularly receiving money from the scamsters”.
The special CBI judge said that a prima facie was made out against Mr Yadav, former chief minister Jagannath Mishra, JD(U) legislator Jagdish Sharma, RJD MP R K Rana and others.
The CBI court also criticised the role of central investigating agency in presenting the facts, saying this was one of those cases in which even the prosecution had suppressed various important facts from the trial court. Special judge Sanjay Prasad while quoting the powers of the court under section 319 of the CrPC said it was entitled to proceed against any person against whom complicity has been found in course of the trial and who has been left by prosecution.
The court also referred to the evidence witness of Mahendra Prasad who in his deposition had said a sum of Rs 4 crore was given to Loha Singh of the animal husbandry department by Lalu Yadav.
Reacting on the court order JD(U) spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari said although it was not expected of Mr Yadav to resign on the grounds of political morality “the consequences of the court order could be damning” for the RJD strongman.
A day after the Patna High Court held as maintainable under law the state government’s appeal challenging the acquittal of the Rabri-Lalu duo in the disproportionate assets case (an offshoot of the fodder scam case), the Ranchi CBI court on Friday made out a prima facie case against Mr Yadav in yet another fodder scam-related case, in which he was not even made an accused by the CBI. The special CBI court in Ranchi has summoned the RJD president for appearing before the court on 23 November.
The Ranchi CBI court in its order in the fodder scam case number RC 39 (A)/96 maintained that “from the evidence of prosecution witness it is fully corroborated and clarified from the defence witness of Mahendra Prasad, who has disclosed many material facts against Lalu Prasad in course of his cross examination, that he was paid Rs 4 crore and was regularly receiving money from the scamsters”.
The special CBI judge said that a prima facie was made out against Mr Yadav, former chief minister Jagannath Mishra, JD(U) legislator Jagdish Sharma, RJD MP R K Rana and others.
The CBI court also criticised the role of central investigating agency in presenting the facts, saying this was one of those cases in which even the prosecution had suppressed various important facts from the trial court. Special judge Sanjay Prasad while quoting the powers of the court under section 319 of the CrPC said it was entitled to proceed against any person against whom complicity has been found in course of the trial and who has been left by prosecution.
The court also referred to the evidence witness of Mahendra Prasad who in his deposition had said a sum of Rs 4 crore was given to Loha Singh of the animal husbandry department by Lalu Yadav.
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Reacting on the court order JD(U) spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari said although it was not expected of Mr Yadav to resign on the grounds of political morality “the consequences of the court order could be damning” for the RJD strongman.
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