Will appeal in high court, says Lalu’s son

Ranchi  :  Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad’s eldest son Tejasavi Yadav said Monday that the conviction of his father in a fodder scam case by a Special CBI court here would be challenged in the high court.

Tejaswi Yadav added that the matter would also be taken to the court of the people, in the elections.

After Lalu Prasad was held guilty in the fodder scam case by the special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation Monday, he was taken to the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi. His son said an appeal for bail would be made.

“We will appeal in the high court against the order. We will also take up the issue in the people’s court. We will give a fitting reply in the polls,” Tejsavi told reporters after his father was taken to jail.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad, former Bihar chief minister Jagganth Mishra and 43 others were convicted Monday in a fodder scam case by the Special CBI court here.

Pravas Kumar Singh, Special CBI Court judge, delivered the judgment. The court found all the 45 accused in the case guilty.

The quantum of sentence will be announced Oct 3, through video conferencing, the court said.

Talking to reporters, Prabhunath Singh, an RJD Lok Sabha member, told reporters: “Earlier through petition in the high court and later in the Supreme Court, Lalu Prasad had raised questions, and doubted whether he would get justice. What was suspected has taken place.”

Another RJD Lok Sabha member, Raghuvansh Prasad said: “The party will stay united and move ahead with collective responsibilities.”

Besides Lalu Prasad and Jagannath Mishra, both former chief ministers of Bihar, ministers of the department of animal husbandry, two IAS officials and others were accused in the fodder scam case of fraudulent withdrawal of Rs.37.70 crore from the Chaibasa district treasury. After Jharkhand was carved out of southern Bihar in November 2000, Chaibasa district became part of the new state.

Around 54 of the 61 cases in the fodder scam were transferred to Jharkhand. Different CBI courts have passed judgments in more than 43 cases.

Lalu Prasad and Jagannath Mishra are accused in five cases.