The Jharkhand High Court on Saturday (April 17) granted bail to the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief, Lalu Prasad Yadav, in a fodder scam case related to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 3.5 crore from Dumka treasury by animal husbandry department officials between 1991 and 1996 when he was the chief minister of Bihar.
Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh stated that the RJD chief is getting bail since he had served half the tenure of his seven-year jail term.
As this was the last of the four cases of fodder scam for which Lalu was waiting for bail he can be released now.
Lalu, who has been undergoing jail term in Ranchi since Dec 23, 2017, is at present undergoing treatment in All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Welcoming the court ruling his son and leader of opposition in Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, said that Lalu would continue to be in AIIMS where he is under treatment.
The news of Lalu getting bail was greeted by family members and party workers across Bihar and Jharkhand. Sweets were distributed at 10 Circular Road residence of the former chief minister, Rabri Devi.
The Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal-United, while respecting the court’s decision to give bail, said that it was a part of the judicial process and added that Lalu’s release would not have any impact on the politics of Bihar.
The release of ailing Lalu has come as a morale booster to the RJD rank and file, which has been feeling let down ever since the party’s narrow defeat in the last November assembly election.
Political commentators are of the view that though Tejashwi has been carrying the responsibility on his shoulders and almost snatched victory from the NDA, the release of Lalu Prasad is good news for senior leaders who are more comfortable with him.
