The Jharkhand High Court on Saturday granted bail to imprisoned Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the Dumka Treasury case related with the multi-crore fodder scam. The decision will pave way for his exit from jail after 39 months.
Mr. Prasad is currently admitted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi for treatment. Earlier, he was granted bail in three other cases of the ₹950 crore fodder scam cases related to fraudulent transctions in the Deoghar and Chaibasa treasuries. He was convicted and imprisoned in four fodder scam cases for fraudulently withdrawing money from different district treasuries of Jharkhand in undivided Bihar of from 1990-96 when he was chief minister of Bihar. Mr Prasad has been lodged at Birsa Munda Central jail in Ranchi since December 23, 2017.
The single bench of justice Aparesh Kumar Singh of Jharkhand High Court granted bail to the RJD chief in Dumka treasury case of fraudulent withdrawal of ₹3.13 crore. Earlier, the trial court had held Mr Prasad guilty in Dumka treasury case under sections 120(B), 420, 409, 467, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act and served him seven years jail term in the case.
“Lalu Prasad has already served over half of the jail term in this case and the court granted bail to him on this basis,” Mr Prasad’s lawyer Prabhat Kumar said. Associate lawyer Devarshi Mandal said they would now “move to Special CBI court in Ranchi on Monday to seek Mr Prasad’s release from jail following the High Court order”.
Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal appeared for Mr Prasad in the virtual court of Jharkhand High Court.
“With the bail granted in the Dumka treasury case in which Mr Prasad has already served 3.5 years in jail he is likely to be released from jail by Monday-Tuesday after 39 months and 25 days in incarceration,” said Mr Mandal.
While granting bail, the court directed that Mr Prasad should not leave the country, change his address or mobile number without permission during the bail period.
As news of the bail announcement came in, RJD leaders and workers gathered to celebrate at 10, Circular Road, residence of Rabri Devi, former chief minister and wife of Mr. Prasad. Party workers distributed sweets and shouted slogans of “Lalu Prasad zindabad”.
“Its time for us to celebrate as the bail granted to him was long due and it will pave way for him to come out of the jail”, said senior party leader Shivanand Tiwari.
Later, Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of Opposition in state assembly and younger son of Mr Prasad told media persons, “We’re happy that bail has been granted by honorable court to Lalu Prasad ji who is also suffering from several serious diseases and admitted to AIIMS in new Delhi. Our priority will be to act as per doctor’s advice”.
Published - April 17, 2021 02:00 pm IST
