Fodder scam: 19, including former JD-U MP, convicted

A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court Wednesday convicted 19 people, including former Janata Dal-United (JD-U) MP Jagdish Sharma, in a multi-million-rupee fodder scam case.

The case is related to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs.1.16 crore from the Godda district treasury.

There were 30 accused in the case. Six died during the course of trial, two turned CBI approvers, two admitted their guilt and one is still absconding. Of the 19 convicted, seven were sentenced to three years' imprisonment.

The quantum of sentence against the remaining 12 will be pronounced Jan 24.

Sharma was also convicted in a fodder scam along with Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad in September 2013. He lost his Lok Sabha membership along with Lalu Yadav after being sentenced to five years' imprisonment.

This was the judgment in the 44th fodder scam case.

Lalu Prasad quit his Bihar chief minister's post in 1997 when his name figured in the fodder scam case probe by the CBI.

The scam surfaced in 1996. Around 54 of the 61 cases were transferred to Jharkhand when it was carved out of Bihar in November 2000.

Different CBI courts have passed judgment in more than 43 cases. Lalu Prasad and another former Bihar chief minister, Jagannath Mishra, are accused in five cases.