Ways have been cleared for the Patna High Court to take cognizance of the charges levelled by CBI against 55 accused, including Bihar Chief Minsiter Laloo Prasad, in the Rs 950 crore animal husbandry scam at the next hearing on July 21.
The central government has disposed off an application of the CBI seeking permission to chargesheet five of its senior officials in the fodder scam.
According to Union cabinet secretary TSR Subramaniam, the Centre refused permission in the case of two of the five Bihar bureaucrats who were allegedly involved in the multi-crore fodder scam as it has not found any prima faci case against them.
Of the five, one has already retired and for him there is no need to seek government permission. The government has already granted permission for prosecution proceedings against Phoolchand Singh and Sajal Chakravarty, the cabinet secretary said.
The Patna High Court is slated to consider for cognizance the cases in fodder scam case on July 21. Until then, the CBI has given the undertaking not to arrest Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad.
Lower courts have already rejected two separate bail applications filed by Laloo Prasad in respect of two different cases relating to the fodder scam.
The state government has also given its report to the courts, stating its preparedness to handle any situation that might arise out of the arrest of important politicians in connection of the case.
