Fodder scam case: Lalu Prasad Yadav's sentencing likely to be pronounced on Thursday

A special CBI court had on December 23, 2017, convicted Lalu Prasad Yadav in fodder scam case.

Pic courtesy: IANS (File image)

Ranchi: A special CBI court will likely pronounce the quantum of sentence on Thursday for jailed RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the fodder scam case.

The court on Wednesday deferred the sentencing till Thursday of the former Bihar Chief Minister and 15 others. The court of Justice Shivapal Singh deferred the sentencing after it was informed about the death of two lawyers by the District Bar Council. 

Lalu is at present lodged in Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi. His lawyers had told reporters on Tuesday that they would press for minimum punishment in the case. 

"Lalu is 70 years old and suffering from many diseases. We will seek minimum punishment for him," they had said, as per IANS.

According to the lawyers, Lalu can be awarded three to seven years` punishment. If he gets three years` punishment, he would get bail soon after sentencing.

The CBI court had on December 23, 2017, convicted the RJD chief and 15 others in a fodder scam case while acquitting six including another former Bihar CM Jagannath Mishra. Lalu and Mishra are already convicted in a fodder scam case in 2013 and are out on bail.

CBI judge Shivpal Singh had pronounced the verdict in the case pertaining to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from Deoghar Treasury between 1991 and 1994.

Lalu and other convicts were taken into custody immediately after the pronouncement of the verdict.

In a series of tweets, Lalu Prasad had attacked the BJP over his conviction, accusing the party of playing 'dirty politics' to get votes by tarnishing the image of its opponents. 

The RJD chief had said he would keep on fighting for social causes till his last breath. "To hide its failures, false rhetoric and to get votes, the BJP uses every dirty immoral trick in politics to change the public perception of its opponents," he had said.

Truth can be made to appear as a lie, as ambiguous or a half lie by concerted onslaught of bias driven propaganda. But blurred layer of bias and hatred will still be removed, come what may! In end Truth will win — Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) December 23, 2017

A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes. ....But still prevails...In the end though. — Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) December 23, 2017

Had people like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Baba Saheb Ambedkar failed in their efforts, history would have treated them as villains. They still are villains for the biased, racist and caste-ist minds. No one should expect any different treatment. — Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) December 23, 2017

A chargesheet was filed against 38 persons on October 27, 1997, in the case. Eleven of them died and three turned approvers while two other accused confessed and were convicted in 2006-07.

Those convicted include three former IAS officials Phoolchand Mandal, Beck Julius and Mahesh Prasad.

Lalu Prasad is also facing trial in three more cases relating to the fodder scam, also known as 'chara ghotala'.

(With IANS and PTI inputs)