Lalu Prasad sentenced to 14 yrs in prison in fourth fodder scam case

RANCHI, March 19: A special CBI court on Saturday sentenced former Bihar chief minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad to 14 years of imprisonment in the fourth fodder scam-related case.

Lalu was fined Rs 60 lakh by the court in the fourth fodder scam case pertaining to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 3.13 crore from the Dumka treasury in the early 1990s, a CBI counsel said.

CBI judge Shiv Pal Singh awarded two sentences of seven years each to the former Bihar chief minister under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Acts, he said.

Prabhat Kumar, Lalu Prasad’s counsel, told journalists that he will appeal in a higher court against the judgment.

The court had on March 19 held the 69-year-old RJD chief guilty along with 18 others in connection with the case – RC 38 A/96.

Former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra, however, was acquitted in the case along with 12 other accused.

Prasad has been serving prison term in Birsa Munda Jail in Ranchi since December 23 last year after being convicted in the second fodder scam case pertaining to illegal withdrawal of money from the Deogarh treasury.

The RJD supremo is currently undergoing treatment at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, where he was admitted last week after he complained of chest pain and discomfort in jail. PTI