How Lalu aides got themselves jailed to be with their leader

dubai — Hours before Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav was convicted in the fodder scam case, two of his closest aides — Laxman Mahto and Madan Yadav — made sure they were arrested and lodged in Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Central Jail where their boss later walked in, a Republic TV report revealed.

Hackles are being raised over the timing of the duo’s arrest and Lalu’s conviction.

The report said Laxman and Madan turned themselves in before the police on December 23 after they were charged with theft and assaulting a neighbour named Sumit Yadav. Interestingly, Sumit is the nephew of Madan. Sources said the alleged victim approached Ranchi’s Doranda police station first to file a complaint. However, when the cops there refused to arrest the duo, he registered an FIR at the Lower Bazar police station in Ranchi, an indiatoday.in report stated.

In the FIR, Sumit alleged that Laxman and Madan abused and thrashed him while stealing Rs10,000 from him. The duo was booked under Sections 341, 323, 504, 379 of the Indian Penal Code, the report said.

Shortly after the FIR was registered, Laxman and Madan surrendered themselves and were put in the jail, where Lalu was sent soon after. Laxman and Madan have a dairy business in Ranchi, sources said. Both have been spotted with Lalu during the former Bihar chief minister’s frequent visits to Ranchi. Some sources even claim that the duo cook food for their boss and ensure his stay is comfortable, the indiatoday.in report said.

The last time when Lalu was convicted in the first fodder scam case in 2013, Madan had got himself lodged into the same prison by using similar tactics which he used this time.

Laxman didn’t have to resort to all those tricks since he was in the then ruling government of Jharkhand, which had an alliance with the RJD at the time. He frequented the jail whenever he wanted to with his political influence, a Deccan Chronicle report said.