Fodder scam: SC issues notice to CBI on Lalu's bail plea, defers hearing till Dec 13

The Supreme Court on Friday deferred the hearing on the bail plea of former Bihar chief minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who has been sentenced to five years' rigorous imprisonment in connection with the fodder scam case.

The apex court will hear the plea on December 13.

While deferring the matter, a bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and asked it to response on Yadav's plea within two weeks.

Yadav, moved the apex court challenging the order of the Jharkhand High Court which had dismissed his bail plea.

Lalu Yadav, another former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra and 43 others were on September 30, convicted by a special CBI court in the fodder scam case involving fraudulent withdrawal of 37.7 crore rupees from Chaibasa Treasury during the RJD regime.

He has been disqualified from the Lok Sabha after being convicted in the case and banned from contesting elections for six years.

The fodder scam also known as "Chara Ghotala" involved the siphoning of funds from the Bihar Government treasury. The alleged theft spanned over several years, and many Bihar state government administrative and elected officials across multiple administrations were allegedly engaged in it.

The fodder scam was unearthed in Bihar in 1996 when Lalu was chief minister.