Fodder scam: CBI demands maximum punishment for Lalu Prasad

RJD chief Lalu Yadav in Ranchi on September 30, 2013. Photo: PTI.

Arguments on the quantum of sentence to RJD leader Lalu Prasad and 36 other accused in the fodder scam case were on Thursday completed in a special court here with CBI seeking maximum prison term of up to seven years for them.

Special CBI judge Pravas Kumar Singh is likely to pronounce the punishment at 3:30 pm through video conferencing. 65-year-old Prasad and other convicts are currently lodged in the Birsa Munda Central Jail here.

In all, 45 fodder accused had been convicted in the case and the judge had delivered the sentence against eight of them on September 30 itself.

The counsel of Yadav, convicted former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra, sitting JD(U) MP Jagdish Sharma, former legislator R.K. Rana and others sought lesser sentence in the case pertaining to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs.37.7 crore from Chaibasa Treasury when Yadav was heading the RJD government in the early 1990s.

CBI counsel, however, prayed for maximum punishment for the accused.

Lalu Prasad in Ranchi on Monday. Photo: PTI.

Former Development Commissioner Phoolchand Singh, former Science and Technology Secretary Mahesh Prasad, former AHD Secretary Beck Juleus, former Income Tax Commissioner Adhip Chandra Choudhary, former Class I officers Gouri Shankar Prasad, Brajnandan Sharma, K.M. Prasad (all three were with the Animal Husbandry Department) and other officials, suppliers are among the remaining 37 convicts awaiting pronouncement of sentence.

Prasad was convicted in the 17-year-old case on corruption and other charges that disqualifies him from Parliament.

Sitting JD-U MP from Jahanabad Jagadish Sharma also faces disqualification in the wake of a Supreme Court judgment that an MP or MLA would stand disqualified immediately if convicted by a court for crimes with punishment of two years or more and under some other laws even without jail sentence.

RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha has said that the verdict would be challenged in a higher court after the pronouncement of the sentence.

12:11 pm: We argued that he (Lalu) be awarded strictest punishment so that it be a lesson for others: BMP Singh, CBI lawyer.

12:05 pm: Lalu Yadav's lawyer Surendra Singh said punishment of not more than three years should be given.

11:55 am: Lalu's counsel demanded minimum sentence for the RJD chief in view of his conduct and good performance as the then railway minister.

11:54 am: Jagannath Mishra's lawyer demanded minimum punishment for him citing poor health and old age. The CBI, however, demanded deterrent punishment for him and Lalu.

11:50 am: Counsel demands minimum punishment for Lalu Prasad considering good conduct.

11:40 am: Argument over sentencing of Lalu Prasad and other convicts concludes in Ranchi CBI court; order likely by 3:30 pm.

11:25 am: Arguments for sentencing of Lalu Prasad and other convicts begins in Ranchi CBI court.

11:00 am: We will appeal in high court for Lalu Yadav's bail, says Raghuvansh Prasad.

10:59 am: Arguments to begin shortly in fodder scam case.

10:55 am: Congress, BJP and JD-U ganged up to make Lalu Prasad the first victim of the Supreme Court order: Raghuvansh Prasad.

10:50 am: RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh blames Congress, BJP and JD-U for framing Lalu Prasad