Jagannath Mishra sent to jail, lands in hospital with high BP

Barely a few hours after his conviction in the multi-crore rupee fodder scam, former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra was admitted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) with high blood pressure.

Barely a few hours after his conviction in the multi-crore rupee fodder scam, former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra was admitted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) with high blood pressure.

Mishra, once a firebrand leader of undivided Bihar, was convicted on Monday by the Ranchi CBI court along with RJD chief and former chief minister Lalu Prasad and 43 other persons.

Mishra, who was chief minister of Bihar thrice besides serving as the union minister for agriculture, rural areas and employment between 1995-96, was made an accused in the fodder scam case while he was the leader of opposition in Bihar assembly.

76-year-old Mishra complained of uneasiness a few hours after he was transferred to the Birsa Munda Central Jail at Hotwar and was rushed to RIMS where he has been admitted in the VIP ward of the state-run hospital at Bariatu.

Clad in white kurta and dhoti, Mishra was escorted to the hospital by policemen in plainclothes and some of his close aides.

Mishra has been admitted in room No. 13 and the area made out of bounds for outsiders including media. Doctors of RIMS quickly closed the doors of the room and asked the area to be cleared off.

A heart patient, Mishra had undergone a critical bypass surgery in 1999 and was undergoing treatment for prostate problems.

A close aide said that Mishra was a patient of hypertension and his diabetic conditions made it worse for his health.

If the former leader ill health continues he would be hearing the court's verdict on October 3 from his hospital bed.

"We will keep a tab on his condition. A brief health profile has been given to us. After diagnosis we will start his treatment," said Dr JK Singh, unit head at RIMS.

Mishra's neighbours in the hospital are Nalin Soren, former agriculture minister accused in the seed purchase scam, who his lodged at Room No 14 and Sawna Lakra, a legislator accused in a honour killing case, lodged at Room No. 4.