Lalu back in Patna, set to surrender on Aug 30

PATNA: RJD chief and fodder scam convict Lalu Prasad Saturday returned to Patna from Mumbai, where he underwent treatment at a hospital for three weeks. He would surrender before the CBI court in Ranchi on Thursday (August 30) as per the Jharkhand high court’s order.

The HC had refused Thursday to extend the provisional bail, granted to the former Bihar chief minister on May 11 for six weeks on medical grounds, which was extended on several occasions, the last being until August 27.

Flanked by party leaders and workers at the airport here, Prasad refused to comment on anything citing the court order which has restrained him from speaking to the media. He said his health condition is not good.

“Bolna nahi hai. Instruction hai. Tabiyat theek nahi hai (I am not supposed to speak to the media. There are instructions (from the court). My health is not good),” he told reporters at the airport from where he went on his way to his wife Rabri Devi’s residence on 10, Circular Road.

When pressed by journalists for his comment on the sexual abuse of minor girls at Muzaffarpur shelter home, Prasad reiterated that he has been barred from speaking on any issue.

Bahadurpur MLA Bhola Yadav said, “Prasad had gone to Mumbai’s Asian Heart Institute on August 6 for the treatment of heart and kidney infection. He would go to Ranchi on August 29 and will surrender before the CBI court on August 30.” He said the party will submit an application requesting the CBI court to shift Prasad to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences.

Prasad’s sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap were at an event organised to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of late B P Mandal, the former Bihar CM, he said.