Lalu Prasad to record statement in fodder scam case

RANCHI: RJD supremo Lalu Prasad will record his statement in a fodder scam case and appear in two other Animal Husbandry Department scam cases in separate CBI courts here tomorrow.

His statement will be recorded in the court of A K Rai under CrPC 313 (power to examine the accused) in connection with RC 64A/96 pertaining to illegal withdrawal of Rs 96 lakh from Deogarh Treasury in 1990s, according to one of his advocates Prabhat Kumar.

Kumar said Prasad will also appear in the same court in connection with RC 38A/96 pertaining to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 3.97 crore from Dumka treasury in the 1990s.

He will also appear in the court of Balmukund Rai in another fodder scam case RC 47A/96 pertaining to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 184 crore from Doranda Treasury allegedly during his chief ministerial tenure.

Prasad's counsel will argue day after tomorrow. The court of A K Rai had on July 1 dismissed Prasad's petition pleading not to be tried for the same offence in another fodder scam after being convicted in the RC 20/96 case in September last year.

In December last year, Prasad had filed the petition under section 300 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and sub-section (1) of section 220 that states person once convicted or acquitted will not be tried for the same offence.

On September 30 last year, Prasad was convicted and on October 3 sentenced to five years imprisonment in RC 20A/96 fodder case pertaining to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 37.7 crore from Chaibasa Treasury.

Meanwhile, RJD Jharkhand unit spokesman Manoj Kumar said Prasad reached Ranchi today.