Lalu pronounced guilty in Fodder scam (Dumka Treasury) case by Ranchi court

New Delhi: A special CBI court in Ranchi convicted former Bihar CM and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s in fourth fodder scam case. The fourth fodder scam case of fraudulent withdrawal of Rs.3.13 crore from Dumka treasury of the government over two decades ago, involved Lalu along with former CM Jagannath Mishra and 29 others including former IAS officers and animal husbandry officials. Mishra was acquitted by the court. An unwell Lalu, who is hospitalised in RIMS hospital, was on the his way to the court but the judge read out the verdict before his arrival. The hearing to pronounce the quantum of punishment will commence on Wednesday. The over Rs 9,00-crore fodder scam cases relate to illegal withdrawal of money from government treasury in different districts in the animal husbandry department in undivided Bihar in 1990s when RJD was in power in the state. The scam originated with small-scale fraud by some government employees submitting false expense reports, which gradually expanded and drew influential elements like politicians and businesses, transforming into a full-fledged scam. There are altogether six cases of fodder scam on Lalu Prasad, for three of which he has already been convicted. Mishra has been convicted in two cases. Lalu has been convicted thrice for embezzlement in Chaibasa and Deogarh treasury. He has three more fodder scam cases against him for illegitimate withdrawal of Rs 3.97 crore from the Dumka Treasury, Rs 36 crore from the Chaibasa Treasury (again) and Rs 184 crore from the Doranda Treasury A special CBI court on January 24, had sentenced Lalu Prasad and Jagannath Mishra to five years in jail in a fodder scam case related to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 37.62 crore from the Chaibasa treasury. In 2013, Prasad was convicted in the first fodder scam case involving withdrawal of Rs 37.7 crore from the Chaibasa treasury and was sentenced to five years in jail while Mishra was given a prison term of four years. In the second fodder scam case pertaining to illegal withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from the Deogarh treasury 21 years ago, he was convicted on December 23 last year. Prasad has been lodged in the Birsa Munda jail at Ranchi since then. On January 6, a special CBI court had sentenced Prasad to three-and-a-half years in jail and fined him Rs 10 lakh in a fodder scam case relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from the Deoghar Treasury 21 years ago. A fifth case relating to alleged fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 139 crore from the Doranda treasury in Ranchi is pending with the court. The judgment on the fourth case was slated to take place on March 15, but Prasad’s counsel had filed a petition in the meantime under 319 CrPC asking the then three officials of the Accountant General (in the 1990s) be made a party to the case. Section 319 Cr PC is invoked when there is some strong and convincing evidence against the accused. The judgement was then deferred till March 19. (with PTI inputs)