Lalu Prasad begins arguments in fodder scam case

Arguments on behalf of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Monday began in a case related to multi-million-rupee lapses in Bihar animal husbandry department, popularly known as the fodder scam.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader's lawyer presented his arguments in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court in Ranchi.

The lawyer told the court that the case was filed on the instructions of Lalu Prasad, a former Bihar chief minister, when the scam was brought to his notice in 1996.

He alleged Lalu Prasad was implicated in the case.

Lalu Prasad earlier moved the Supreme Court alleging bias in the trial and sought the transfer of the proceedings to another court.

The plea was rejected by the apex court which asked the Ranchi court to complete the arguments in the trial.

The CBI court had earlier fixed July 15 for verdict but the decision was put off after the RJD chief moved the Jharkhand High Court and the apex court alleging bias.

The case is related to alleged fraudulent withdrawal of Rs.37.70 crore from Chaibasa treasury, which now is part of Jharkhand. The 45 accused included Lalu Prasad and former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra.

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