Fodder Scam: Major setback for Lalu, SC orders trial for criminal conspiracy

New Delhi: Three years after Jharkhand HC relief to Rashtriya Janta Dal Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, he has faced a major setback from the apex court, as SC on Monday allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI’s plea challenging the Jharkhand High Court’s order. Jharkhand HC had ordered dropping of charges against Lalu in the case. 53 cases were registered for embezzlement of funds on the pretext of buying fodder for cattle. In 2014, the Jharkhand High Court had given relief to the RJD supremo and others by dropping charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and prevention of corruption in the fodder scam. The court had quashed the cases on the grounds that a person convicted in one case could not be tried in similar cases based on same witnesses and evidences. However, the CBI had contended that though the cases have arisen from the fodder scam, they are different in nature as different amounts were involved from different treasuries. The apex court earlier on April 20 reserved its judgment in the case and asked all parties concerned to give their submissions within a week. The court also heard the plea filed by RJD supremo challenging his jail sentence in connection with the mid-1990s fodder scam case. The fodder scam relates to fraudulent withdrawal of around Rs. 1,000 crore by the Animal Husbandry department from various districts when Lalu was the Bihar chief minister from 1990 to 1997. (With ANI inputs)