Lalu Prasad Yadav to stand trial in all fodder scam cases, SC allows CBI plea

New Delhi: In a big setback to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Supreme Court on Monday allowed the CBI plea opposing the dropping of charges against former Bihar chief minister in connection with the infamous fodder scam case.

These are distinct offences and cannot be clubbed as one case, the SC said in its order.

The apex court ruling implies that the veteran politician will now have to face prosecution separately in all fodder scam related cases. 

The apex court passed its order in response to a plea filed by the CBI opposing the dropping of charges against Lalu Yadav in connection with the fodder scam case. 

With its order, the apex court also set aside the Jharkhand High Court ruling by which trial against Lalu and others were stayed after conviction in one of the fodder scam cases.

The Jharkhand High Court should have been consistent in its findings and should not have given different views for different sets of accused in a case, the apex court said.

Meanwhile, the apex court also pulled up the CBI for delay in filing appeal against the Jharkhand high court order in the case.

The CBI director should have looked into this important matter and deputed an officer to pursue the case, it said.

The Jharkhand High Court had earlier dropped the charges against the RJD chief after which the central probe agency had moved Supreme Court challenging the ruling.

Meanwhile, the veteran politician is embroiled in a fresh political controversy after a TV channel on Saturday released an audio tape of an alleged conversation between him and jailed don-turned-politician Mohammad Shahabuddin, wherein he was heard taking instructions from the later.

In view of the startling disclosure, the BJP-led Opposition has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

However, the ruling grand alliance, comprising the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), RJD and the Congress in the state, has sought to distance itself from the row.

The audio clip was released by Republic TV on Saturday wherein the former don was heard saying that "your SP (Superintendent of Police) is of no use".

Lalu was also heard taking instructions from him over riots.

With ANI inputs