Can't be punished separately in cases of similar nature: Lalu

RJD chief Lalu Prasad today termed as "confusing" reports that CBI might drop charges against him in three fodder scam cases and said he had moved the court pleading he should not be punished separately in cases of similar nature.
"I myself have approached the court praying that under the provisions of double jeopardy, I cannot be punished several times in cases of similar nature," Prasad told reporters.
Double jeopardy is a procedural defence that forbids a defendant from being tried again on the same (or similar) charges following a legitimate acquittal or conviction.
"Ek murgi ko nau jagah halal nahin kiya ja sakta hai (a chicken cannot be sacrificed at nine places)," Prasad said presenting a rustic argument to drive home the point.

He was reacting to a report about CBI Director Ranjit Sinha advocating dropping of charges against him in the three pending cases which are offshoots of the fodder scam in which the RJD leader has been convicted in one of the cases.
Prasad was talking to reporters after induction of seven leaders from BJP and JD(U) into his party.

He said BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had no moral right to seek votes in Bihar after shaking hands with MNS and Shiv Sena which have been targeting people from the state in Mumbai and Maharashtra.
He also lambasted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for uttering "Jai Maharashtra" to appease MNS and Shiv Sena to get entry into Mumbai during a function last year.

The RJD chief claimed there was a wave in favour of RJD-Congress combine in Bihar in the Lok Sabha elections.