The special CBI court today convicted RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and 14 others in the fodder scam case pertaining to fraudulent withdrawal of more than Rs 89 lakh from Deoghar Treasury between 1991 and 1994. However, the court acquitted seven accused persons in this case including former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Minister.
The quantum of punishment will be announced on January 3 next year.
After the judge pronounced his verdict, Lalu Prasad was taken into custody. He has been taken to Birsa Munda jail where he will remain in custody till Jan 3 when the quantum of punishment will be pronounced.
Lalu Yadav's conviction: As it happened:
04:25 pm- BJP is playing dirty and immoral game, tweets Lalu Yadav
04:20 pm- RJD leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh raises questions over the verdict asking why Lalu was convicted when Jagnnath Mishra was acquitted in the same case. .
04:15 pm- Lalu Yadav is now being taken to Birsa Munda jail.
03:51 pm- Lalu Prasad Yadav taken into custody. He will be taken to Ranchi jail till January 3 when the quantum of punishment will be pronounced.
03:50 pm- Seven other accused acquitted in this case. All other accussed convicted in this case.
03: 47 pm- Quantum of punishment to be pronounced on January 3
03:45 pm- Special CBI court convicts Lalu Prasad Yadav
03:34pm- Special CBI court acquits Jagannath Mishra in this case
03:25 pm- Judge Shivpal Singh arrives in the courtroom.
03:20 pm- All 23 accused present in the courtroom.
03:10 pm - The special CBI court to pronounce judgement shortly
03:07 pm- Thousans of Lalu Yadav's supporters gather outside the special CBI court in Ranchi.
03:05 pm- Jagannath Mishra, another prominent accused in this case, also present in the courtroom.
03:00 pm- Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi present in the courtroom.
10:00am- I have faith that I will get justice. Whatever be the judgment, appeal to people of Bihar to maintain law and order", the RJD chief said.
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate has filed a chargesheet against Lalu Yadav's daughter and son-in-law in money laundering case.
After all the accused in the 2G scam were acquitted and relief was given to former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan in Adarsh scam, Lalu Yadav said he respected the judiciary and expressed hope that he would also get a clean chit in the fodder scam case."Jaisa 2G mein hua, Ashok Chavan ka hua vaisa hi humara bhi hoga“, ANI quoted the RJD supremo as saying. WATCH LALU YADAV IN RAJAT SHARMA'S AAP KI ADALAT
"We trust and respect the judiciary. We will not let BJP's conspiracies work," Lalu Yadav added.
Special CBI judge Shivapal Singh had fixed December 23 for pronouncing the judgment and asked all the accused to remain present in the court on that day.
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RJD chief Lalu Yadav seen at Patna airport as he leaves for Ranchi where a special CBI judge is expected to pronounce judgment in fodder scam case.
The former Bihar chief minister also said BJP governments since the time of Atal Bihari Vajpayee have been harassing him and his family by misusing the CBI for the past 25 years.
Overall, more than Rs 900 crore was reportedly siphoned off from the Chaibasa treasury over two decades. In all, there were 34 accused in the case, out of which 11 died during the course of the trial, while one turned CBI approver and admitted the crime.
The RJD chief has already been convicted and sentenced to five years of imprisonment in one of the five fodder scam cases.
