Patna: A special CBI court in Ranchi on Monday sentenced RJD supremo Lalu Prasad to five-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 60 lakh for his involvement in the fifth fodder scam. The verdict was pronounced by Judge S K Sashi. On February 15th, the 73-year-old ailing RJD leader was sent to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, after being taken into custody.
The former Bihar CM, a week ago was convicted in the fifth fodder scam case. Detailed hearing and arguments bought Yadav into a tight spot. The case pertains to the illicit withdrawal of Rs 139.5 crore from the Doranda treasury. Nearly 75 people were convicted along with Lalu Prasad and 24 were acquitted in connection with the embezzlement that took place in Ranchi in 1995-96 under the RJD chief’s reign.
A case against the accused was heard on September 26, 2005. The prosecution submitted the evidence on May 16th 2029 after which statements of the accused were recorded in January 2020. The fodder scam pegged at Rs 950 crore was first unearthed by the then Chaibasa deputy commissioner Amit Khare. Following which successors continued the probe. Lalu is convicted as the prime conspirator in the Doranda treasury case worth Rs 139.35 scam.
The RJD leader was earlier convicted in four cases and was currently out on bail on account of serving half of his sentence. One more case — pertaining to the illegal withdrawal of money from the Bank-Bhagalpur treasury is pending before the CBI court in Patna, Bihar.