New Delhi: CBI took a tough stand for Lalu Yadav in the Supreme Court today, when it said he must not be let-off to continue his political activities. This was in opposition the RJD chief's bail in fodder scam cases for which he is serving a jail term in Jharkhand.
In its affidavit to the Supreme Court, the CBI stated: “Lalu Yadav is not sentenced to 3.5 years but 27.5 years in jail if all punishments are calculated cumulatively." Expressing its disgust the CBI further stated that Lalu Prasad Yadav "nefarious act" as Chief Minister of a state ‘shook the conscience of the entire nation’. The premier investigating agency also stated that Lalu Yadav had actually requested bail for the Lok Sabha elections and was "misleading the court by asking for bail on medical grounds." It also informed that Yadav "is conducting political activities from a special ward of the hospital."
The CBI told the Apex Court that Yadav wasn’t serving the jail term. Instead, he is staying in a special ward of the hospital. The Supreme Court will be hearing the case tomorrow.
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Fodder Scam
A corruption scandal involving the embezzlement of about Rs 9.4 billion from the government treasury of Bihar, Fodder Scam led to the end of Lalu's reign as Chief Minister of the eastern Indian state. Convicted in the year 2017, Lalu Yadav has reportedly been in a hospital at Ranchi for most part of his sentence.
Lalu was granted a six weeks' provisional bail in 2018. However, Lalu was prohibited from taking part in any kind of public function or political activity. He was also restrained interacting with the media during the period of bail. Moving further, Yadav again asked for another break from prison on medical grounds apparently for a surgery. A Jharkhand court however, refused the bail and ordered him back to jail.