Fodder scam: RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav granted bail in Dumka treasury case, set to walk free

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad was Saturday granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court in a case linked to the fodder scam.

Team Newsable

Bengaluru, First Published Apr 18, 2021, 10:34 AM IST | Last Updated Apr 18, 2021, 10:34 AM IST

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president and former chief minister of Bihar Lalu Yadav was granted bail in a case linked to the fodder scam by the Jharkhand High Court on Saturday.

Lalu, currently undergoing treatment at AIIMS in New Delhi under custody, is likely to be released next week after the formal processes are complete.

The case pertains to the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 3.5 crore from the Dumka treasury by Animal Husbandry Department officials between 1991 and 1996, when Lalu was the chief minister of Bihar. The trial court had held Lalu guilty under Sections 120 B (Criminal conspiracy), 420 (Cheating), 409 (Criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent), 467 (Forgery of valuable security, will, etc.), 468 (Forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly uses as genuine) of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corrupt Act.

During the hearing on Saturday, former Union minister and senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued on behalf of Lalu, saying that the RJD president had completed more than half of the maximum sentence of seven years’ rigorous imprisonment in the Dumka treasury case and was entitled to be released.

Lalu, 73, who was convicted in four cases related to the fodder scam, has already secured bail in the other three cases, and is likely to walk out of prison.

While pronouncing the order, Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh stated that the RJD chief had served half the tenure of his sentence in the case, said Niraj Ravi, assisting lawyer to the CBI counsel Rajiv Sinha.

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