Fodder scam case: RJD leader Lalu Prasad in Ranchi

With barely a few hours left for the judgment in the multi-crore fodder scam, a pall of gloom has descended on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav’s residence, as well as the party office here.

Facing one of the toughest battles of his life, Lalu on Sunday afternoon left for Ranchi, where special CBI judge P K Singh will deliver the judgment in the case, RC 20 A/96.

The case pertains to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 37.70 crore from the Chaibasa treasury. The accused include two former chief ministers, Lalu and Jagannath Mishra, six retired IAS officers, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) MP Jagdish Sharma and 33 others.

It was alleged that the accused, including Animal Husbandry department officials, in connivance with the suppliers, cheated the department by supplying fodder, medicine and other articles only on paper. The politicians and bureaucrats were alleged to have received kickbacks, who, in turn, protected the scamsters.

In July this year, Lalu had sought transfer of the case from the CBI court to another special court. He pleaded that since the CBI judge was a relative of JD-U Minister P K Sahi, he (Lalu) may not get justice. But his arguments were eventually dismissed by the Supreme Court last month.