Arguments begin on sentencing of Lalu Prasad

Arguments on the quantum of sentence to be awarded to Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Bihar chief minister Jagannth Mishra and others convicted in a fodder scam case began at 11 a.m. in a Special CBI court here Thursday.

The sentence will be pronounced to the convicted men through video conferencing in the Birsa Minda Central Jail of Ranchi. The arguments began in the Special CBI Court of Pravas Kumar Singh. The sentence is likely to be delivered at 2.30 p.m.

According to legal experts, Lalu Prasad could be sentenced to a jail term of four to seven years. His lawyer told reporters that he would seek minimum sentence.

Lalu Prasad, Jagannath Mishra and 43 others were convicted in a fodder scam case RC 20 A/96 related to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs.37.70 crore from Chaibasa district treasury. After the division of Bihar, the district is now in Jharkhand.

The CBI court on Sep 30 convicted all the 45 accused, including Lalu Prasad, in that fodder scam case. Eight accused were sentenced to three years in prison and slapped with fine up to Rs.50 lakh.