More trouble seems to be in store for Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. A day after the Patna High Court held that the Bihar government appeal against Lalu’s acquittal in the disproportionate assets case was ‘maintainable,’ there have been some new startling developments, which will only add to the RJD chief’s legal woes.

Mr Yadav is said to have received the alleged kickbacks from the fodder scam accused in 1995 in the fictitious name of Loha Singh.

 An order of the special CBI judge, who has issued summons to the Railway Minister under Section 319 of the CrPC to appear before him on November 23, has quoted a defence witness. The witness said,   “From 1-9-95 to January 1996, an amount of Rs 80 crore was withdrawn….an amount of Rs 4 crore was paid to one Loha Singh.”

Graphic details
The witness has also come out with graphic details on how the rest of the amount was allegedly disbursed to the AHD director, planning committee, budget section officials, members of the public accounts committee, suppliers and other politicians.

The case relates to fraudulent withdrawal from Dumka treasury (then in Bihar, now part of Jharkhand) from 1991-92 to 1995-96 by the AHD officials.

Taking cognisance of the matter, CBI Judge Sanjay Prasad has issued summons to the minister. He has asked him to appear before the court in Ranchi (where the trial of the case is on) on November 23.

In his 47-page order, a copy of which is lying with Deccan Herald, the judge said, “From the evidence, it is fully corroborated… that Lalu has been paid Rs 4 crore and he regularly received money from scamsters….I find that there is overwhelming and ample evidence against the persons named above. Hence, the court is compelled to issue summons to Lalu Prasad, the then chief minister of Bihar...”