SC issues notice to CBI on Lalu bail plea

The Supreme Court Friday issued notice to the CBI on Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav's petition for bail. He is currently in jail following his conviction in a fodder scam case.

The apex court bench of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi issued notice after senior counsel Ram Jethmalani told the court that 44 people were convicted in the case, of whom 37 have already been granted bail and bail applications of six others are under consideration.

Jethmalani told the court that except for Lalu Prasad, no other convict has been refused bail.

He said that another convict who too has been awarded five years imprisonment has been released on bail.

The court inquired what was the position of the Jharkhand High Court in respect of the pendency of the matter. The court was told it was still hearing appeals of 1999-2000.

Upon this, the court said that the notice is returnable in two weeks and directed the listing of matter Dec 13.