A special CBI Court in Ranchi has sentenced former Chief Minister of Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav to 5 years year in jail under Fodder Scam Case and the court also imposed a fine of Rs 60 lakh on him. The case involved withdrawal of over Rs 140 crore illegally in 1995-96 from Doranda treasury.
Over 170 people accused in the fodder scam, 55 have died, 2 have accepted the charges against them, 6 are absconding and 7 have become government witnesses. This is the fifth case in which Lalu Prasad Yadav is being convicted. His first conviction was in 2013, second in 2017, third and fourth in 2018. He has been sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison. Lalu Yadav along with other convicts withdrew money from the treasury accounts in name of buying medicines, fodder and equipments for Animal Husbandry Department.
What Court Has Directed To CBI in Lalu Prasad Yadav Fodder Scam Case?
The court has asked CBI to handover all files related with the case to Enforcement Directorate. This has been done because the proceeds of the money illegally withdrawn have not been identified. The sum of money is a subject matter of investigation under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
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Justice SK Shashi has said that ED would have the power to confiscate any assets that may have been occupied with the money and also it can launch investigation in the matter. The judge said, “The opinion of this court in respect of the present accused person (Lalu Prasad) can be summarised in the words of Snowden…‘there can be no faith in government if our highest offices are excused from scrutiny; they should be setting the example of transparency’.”
Court also quoted famous words by Mahatama Gandhi, “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs but not every man’s greed”. It also quoted words by Albert Einstein, “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”
During the proceeding Justice SK Shashi said, “… I find that the properties/assets created from the proceeds of the crime by the convicts and (now) dead accused persons in this case could not be identified. It may be a subject matter of investigation under the PMLA, 2002. The ED, if wishes so, and if law permits, may proceed for identification and confiscation of such properties/assets created by convicts or now dead accused persons by the ill-gotten money. Thus, the prosecution (CBI) is directed to provide a copy of this judgement, FIR and charge sheet etc. of this case to the Enforcement Directorate for taking necessary action on their part.”
