Live: Lalu Prasad sentenced to 3.5 years in jail, Rs 5 lakh penalty in fodder scam

Lalu Yadav was sentenced to 3.5 years in jail along with a fine of Rs 5 lakh in 1996 fodder scam

PATNA/RANCHI: RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was sentenced to 3.5 years in jail along with a fine of Rs 5 lakh in one of the cases related to the 1996 fodder scam by special CBI court judge Shiv Pal Singh on Saturday.

Lalu appeared before the court of CBI special judge Shiv Pal Singh for hearing through video conferencing from Birsa Munda Central Jail. In a plea moved to the court, he sought leniency owing to his illness and age. The 69-year-old RJD leader is lodged in the central jail since his conviction on December 23. 

Here are the live updates:-

06 January 2018

16:38 PM

None of the convicts can get bail from Ranchi Court. They will have to move High Court.

16:37 PM

Tej Pratap Yadav: We are confident that Lalu ji will get bail. We have full faith in the judiciary.

16:35 PM

Apart from Lalu, others accused were also present in the court when the quantum of sentence was pronounced. There were tight security arrangements outside the court.

16:33 PM

If Lalu fails to furnish the Rs 5 lakh fine, his jail term would extend by six months, the court said.

16:32 PM

KC Tyagi, JDU leader: We welcome this judgement. This will prove to be a historic decision in Bihar politics. It is the end of a chapter

16:32 PM

Convicts Phool Chand, Mahesh Prasad, Bake Julious, Sunil Kumar, Sushil Kumar, Sudhir Kumar and Raja Ram have also been sentenced to 3.5 years in jail and Rs 5 lakh fine each

16:28 PM

Convicts Phool Chand, Mahesh Prasad, Bake Julious, Sunil Kumar, Sushil Kumar, Sudhir Kumar and Raja Ram have been sentenced to 3.5 years in jail and Rs 5 lakh fine each.

16:28 PM

Tejashwi Yadav: The judiciary performed its duty. We will go to the High Court after studying the sentence and will apply for a bail

16:27 PM

Lalu Prasad will have to approach the High Court to apply for bail

16:12 PM

Lalu Prasad Yadav gets 3.5 years in jail, Rs 5 lakh fine

16:05 PM

Tejaswi Yadav: Lalu Ji is not with us right now but all RJD members gathered in Ranchi to plan the strategy of the party

16:01 PM

Visuals from Ranchi: All accused in #FodderScam present in video conferencing room, sentence to be pronounced shortly. pic.twitter.com/fkJRaVgOUC

— ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2018

16:00 PM

All accused in the fodder scam case are present in the video conferencing room, verdict to be pronounced shortly.

14:40 PM

''An open jail is best for these people (convicts), as they also have experience of cow farming,'' says special court judge.

14:32 PM

Hearing in the case over, sentencing at 4 pm.

14:28 PM

Proceedings in fodder scam case begins after judge reaches the video-conferencing room of the Ranchi court, reports ANI.

14:21 PM

Lalu Prasad is currently lodged in the Birsa Munda Jail in Ranchi.  

14:20 PM

The emergency meeting is being chaired by Lalu's son Tejashwi Yadav.

14:18 PM

Top RJD leaders are attending the emergency meeting called by Rabri Devi at her 10, Circular Road residence.

14:16 PM

Special CBI judge Shivpal Singh reaches e-conferencing room.

14:13 PM

Sentencing in fodder scam case shortly; Lalu Prasad's wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi calls emergency meeting

12:34 PM

Lalu filed a plea on Friday in court seeking leniency on health grounds. "I have no role in this scam directly; consider minimum punishment keeping in view my age and health grounds," his plea stated.

12:33 PM

Lalu's lawyer has said that he is dealing with a lot of health issues."Lalu has diabetes, blood pressure; he almost fainted yesterday," he said.

12:33 PM

The sentencing will be announced at 2 pm via video conferencing.

12:26 PM

The Ranchi Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court will on Saturday give sentencing against Lalu Prasad in connection with the fodder scam.