A special CBI court in Ranchi has convicted Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the final case of multi-crore fodder scam. This case is related to fraudulent withdrawal of more than one hundred and 39 crores amount from Doranda Treasury in Jharkhand.
The special court acquitted 24 other accused for lack of evidence. The court shall pronounce its final judgement on February 21. The court has sent RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav to judicial custody in Hotwar jail.
Security has been beefed up in the court premises during the hearing of the fodder scam case. Special CBI court judge SK Shashi had ordered Lalu Yadav and other 99 accused to physically appear in the court. During the Fodder scam hearing, the advocate present in the court premises told AIR that Lalu Prasad Yadav would be sentenced on February 21.
Lalu Yadav has been convicted in four out of five cases related to the multi-crore fodder scam. This scam happened when Lalu Yadav was the Chief Minister of Bihar before the formation of Jharkhand. The Jharkhand High Court has granted bail to Lalu Prasad Yadav in four cases related to the illegal withdrawal of funds from Chaibasa, Deoghar and Dumka treasuries.
Central Bureau of Investigation- CBI recorded statements of more than 565 witnesses in more than 15 years in connection with fodder scam. Meanwhile, the CBI could not trace the six accused till date and 55 accused died during this period.