Lalu Yadav Gets 5-Year Jail Term in Third Fodder Scam Case

Ranchi: A special CBI court in Ranchi on Wednesday found former chief ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Jagannath Mishra guilty in a fodder scam case related to fraudulent withdrawal from Chaibasa Treasury in early 90s. RJD chief Lalu has been sentenced to five years in jail and a fine of Rs 5 lakh was also imposed on him. Jagannath Mishra was also awarded 5 years in jail.

The court of SS Prasad had reserved the verdict after completion of hearing in the case, RC 68A/96 on January 10. In all, 50 people were convicted, while 10 were acquitted Lalu, Jagannath Mishra and 50 others were accused of using fake bills and vouchers of procuring livestock feed for withdrawing Rs 37 crore from the Treasury.

This is the third fodder scam case in which Lalu Yadav has been convicted. He is presently serving 3.5 years jail imprisonment in Deogarh Treasury case. In 2013, the CBI court had convicted him in a similar case of fraudulent withdrawal from Chaibasa Treasury and sentenced him to five years in prison but he got bail from the Supreme Court later that year.
Lalu's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has reacted saying they would appeal in the High Court. His younger son and leader of opposition Tejashwi Yadav said in Patna that the CBI was hell bent to implicate his family but he would appeal in higher judiciary. 
"Lalu is a hero and CBI court is not the last court. We will fight the legal battle and at the same time go to the people's court", he said after meeting with Governor Satpal Mallick in Patna.