LALU APPEARS BEFORE CBI COURT IN PATNA IN FODDER SCAM CASE, TO ATTEND RJD EVENT ON WEDNESDAY

PATNA : Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad on Tuesday appeared before a special CBI court in Patna in connection with yet another case relating to the fodder scam.

The former Bihar chief minister, who is over 70 years of age and suffers from many debilitating ailments, appeared before special CBI judge Prajesh Kumar a week after being ordered to be physically present in course of hearing on Banka treasury case.

His counsel Sudhir Kumar Sinha said, “The court has fixed November 30 as the next date of hearing in the case when witnesses, said to be over 200 in number, would be examined. Lalu ji has not been asked to appear on that date. He is willing to appear whenever asked.” The fodder scam pertains to fraudulent withdrawal of nearly Rs 1000 crore, in the 1980s and 1990s from several treasuries in undivided Bihar. The CBI has lodged separate cases with regard to irregularities in different districts. Prasad, who had been the CM from 1990 to 1997, was first convicted in the case relating to Chaibasa, now in Jharkhand, about a decade ago which also rendered the powerful mass leader disqualified from contesting elections. Convictions in a number of other cases in 2017-18 caused him to spend a considerable time behind bars in Ranchi, until his release on bail granted by the High Court of Jharkhand earlier this year.

Journalists eager for a soundbite from the colourful politician were in for a disappointment as Prasad, looking haggard in a sleeveless jacket over his white kurta-pyjama and a mask wrapped around his face, refused to utter a word and drove out of the court premises.

However, he showed his penchant for springing a surprise when he turned towards a kindergarten school run by a convent in the vicinity where a large number of people had gathered to catch a glimpse of the charismatic leader whose ability to mingle with crowds has been a stuff of legend.