RJD Supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav Gets Bail Over Fodder Scam Case

Lalu Prasad is currently undergoing treatment in AIIMS, said his lawyer Prabhat Kumar.

Ranchi: Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad was on Thursday released on bail from the Birsa Munda Jail after his bail bond was paid today. The Rashtriya Janta Dal(RJD) chief was granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court last week almost 42 weeks after his conviction in the Doranda case. The special CBI court had convicted the RJD chief on February 21 and awarded five years jail term. Since then, four hearings have taken place in the court for his bail.

The Bihar politician has been imprisoned in connection with a fodder scam case relating to the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 139.5 crore from the Doranda treasury in undivided Bihar. During the last hearing, the court had asked CBI to clear its objection on why should Lalu Prasad should not be given bail. Although the CBI filed its reply in court, the judge was not satisfied with the arguments.

On the other hand, Justice Apresh Kumar Singh was more satisfied by the argument of Lalu’s lawyer Prabhat Kumar. “Ranchi High Court has granted bail in Doranda case and the copy of the decision has been sent to the authority of Hotwar jail Ranchi. The jail authority will further communicate to AIIMS Delhi for the release of Lalu Prasad,” Kumar said.

Currently, Lalu Prasad is admitted in AIIMS Delhi due to his multiple health issues. He suffers from kidney disease, blood pressure, lung infection besides other ailments and is under the custody of jail in the AIIMS Delhi. Prabhat Kumar believes that it will take two to three days for Lalu to walk out of the jail.

Welcoming the development, Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of Lalu Prasad said the granting of bail has come in the “pious” month of Ramzan. “We have been praying to God since long. Finally, our prayers have been answered and my father has been granted bail. We are very grateful to God and the court of law,” he said.