LALU PLEADS FOR LESSER PENALTY; SENTENCING LIKELY TODAY

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, on Friday, pleaded before a special CBI court in Ranchi for lesser punishment, citing ill health, advanced age and the mental agony he faced in pursuing the 21-yearlong legal battle in the fodder scam case, in which he was convicted on December 23 last year.

The case relates to fraudulent withdrawal of ₹89.27 lakh from the Deoghar treasury.

The court heard the arguments by Prasad’s advocate in the videoconferencing hall, where the incarcerated former Bihar chief minister was made to appear online before the court. Including Prasad, the court has so far recorded arguments of 10 of the total 16 convicts.

“As per discussions held in the courtroom, there is a likelihood that the judge will pronounce the punishment to all convicts on Saturday through videoconferencing,” said Prasad’s advocate Prabhat Kumar.

Pleading for lesser punishment, Kumar argued that his client was suffering from various health ailments, including uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension, and had undergone a heart surgery recently for valve replacement. “He is 70 years old and virtually punished by making rounds of court and jail to pursue the 21-year-old case,” Kumar argued. The counsel for the CBI, however, argued that considering the gravity of the case and offences committed by the accused, the court should award the maximum punishment of seven years to Prasad.