BJP alleges stolen files were of fodder scam; seeks CBI probe

The BJP today refused to accept Bihar government's claim that 500 odd stolen files of the state animal husbandry directorate were not connected with the fodder scam and alleged that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was trying to save RJD president Lalu Prasad and others accused in the over Rs 1000 crore scam.
"More than 500 stolen files are related to fodder scam," senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi claimed in a statement and demanded CBI inquiry into the issue.
"Majority of the stolen files are related to cases under fodder scam in which hearing is pending in courts," Modi, one of the petitioners in the Patna High Court in the scam in Animal Husbandry department during RJD rule, alleged.

Besides, there are files linked to petitioners that included him (Sushil Modi), Rajeev Ranjan Singh Lallan and Prem Chandra Mishra, he alleged.
"Lalu Prasad is a convict in a fodder scam case and is currently on bail. More than half-a-dozen other cases related to the fodder scam are pending against him," he said and asked if theft of the files was part of a conspiracy to save the accused.
"In a bid to save its face, the state government is arguing that files related to fodder scam have been handed over to CBI. The question is if these were dead files, why were they stolen?" he asked.

Animal Husbandry Department Minister Awdesh Kumar Singh yesterday denied missing files were of fodder scam saying all such files related to that case have been handed over to the CBI which is investigating the scam.

The minister said the missing files were related to retirement, pension and other departmental matters of employees from 1997 to 2011.
Modi said the theft had been taken place on April 26 but the information regarding the theft was given four days later (April 30) and this proves it is a conspiracy.
"Sixteen days after information about theft of files, an FIR was registered, and after 22 days of it an inspector did the formality of questioning about theft," he claimed.

"The fact is that Nitish Kumar wishes to save Lalu Prasad," he alleged.
"On one hand, Lalu Prasad ignored party workers and nominated noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani, who is arguing his case in fodder scam, to Rajya Sabha. On the other, a conspiracy was hatched to steal files related to fodder scam," Modi said.