National

Lalu Prasad Yadav convicted in fodder scam

Ranchi/Patna: RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav was on Monday convicted by a special CBI court in connection with the fodder scam. The conviction disqualified Lalu as Member of Parliament and rendered him ineligible for contesting elections for the minimum period of six years.
Another 44 accused, including former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra, six politicians and four IAS officers, were also convicted by court of Pravas Kumar Singh for fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 37.7 crore from Chaibasa treasury.
The July 10 judgement of the Supreme Court struck down a provision in the electoral law that provided protection to sitting MPs and MLAs by allowing them to continue in their posts if they appeal against a lower court conviction and secure a stay of the order.
Lalu would have got protection from disqualification if the Ordinance promulgated by the Centre was cleared by President Pranab Mukherjee but he is said to have some reservations and raised questions over it.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has compounded problems by attacking the Ordinance and calling for its withdrawal, virtually sealing its fate.
RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha said that they would challenge the order in a higher court after the quantum of punishment is pronounced.
Earlier, Lalu arrived at the special CBI court before delivery of the verdict in the 17-year-old case. IAS officers Mahesh Prasad, Phoolchand Singh, Beck Juleus, K Arumugam, Income Tax officer AC Choudhary, former AHD officials and fodder suppliers were also among the accused.
Lalu had begun arguments on September 9 and ended it on September 17 after the Supreme Court turned down his request to change the current special court to another one after he apprehended political conspiracy.
Following the Animal Husbandry scam, popularly known as the fodder scam, Lalu had to resign as Chief Minister of Bihar. After installing his wife Rabri Devi as the Chief Minister, Yadav had surrendered to a court in Patna on July 31, 1997.
Later, he came to Ranchi following a court order as it had the jurisdiction of the case. The Mecon Guest House was converted to a camp jail in Ranchi before he was shifted to the old Birsa Munda Jail at Circular road.
After Jharkhand’s bifurcation on November 15, 2000, the litigations were brought before the Supreme Court whether the Patna High Court had the jurisdiction on the cases in this part of the undivided Bihar and trial was stayed till December 2000 to December 2001.
The SC had said in November, 2001 that trial would be conducted by special courts in Ranchi. Trial in Ranchi began in March, 2002 by seven special courts. The case was posted for defence of Lalu from May 15 and his counsel examined 29 witnesses in his defence. But when the defence continued to skip dates, the court fixed July 15 to deliver the judgement and asked the accused to complete arguments by July 1.
Subsequently, Lalu moved the Supreme Court pleading shifting of his case from the court of Pravas Kumar Singh on the ground of political conspiracy, which the Apex Court struck down, paving the way for the first judgement against Lalu.

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