Fodder scam case: SC agrees to hear plea challenging HC bail to Lalu Yadav

On April 17 last year, the Jharkhand high court had granted bail to Lalu Prasad Yadav in the Dumka treasury case, in which he was convicted of withdrawing ₹3.13 crore from the treasury in Jharkhand's Dumka district, which was formerly in Bihar.

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a plea challenging the bail granted by Jharkhand high court to Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav in the fodder scam case, news agency ANI reported. The former Bihar chief minister has been asked to file a reply.

On April 17 last year, the Jharkhand high court had granted bail to Lalu Prasad Yadav in the Dumka treasury case, in which he was convicted of withdrawing ₹3.13 crore from the treasury in Jharkhand's Dumka district, which was formerly in Bihar.

Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav. (Sonu Mehta/ Hindustan Times)

The 72-year-old politician is currently undergoing treatment at New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Prasad was sentenced by a special CBI court to five years imprisonment and slapped with a fine of ₹60 lakh on February 21 after being convicted in the embezzlement of ₹139 crore from Doranda treasury in the fodder scam.

He had appealed in the Jharkhand high court challenging the CBI conviction in the case. Lalu Prasad has been convicted for the fifth time in a series of fodder scam case. While he is on bail in four other cases, the present conviction is related to the Doranda treasury case.

The fodder scam is pegged at ₹950 crore. The money was withdrawn from various treasuries through fake challans and bills by the animal husbandry department. Prasad, who was the chief minister at the time, also held the portfolio of the finance department and had allegedly received huge kickbacks.

(With agency inputs)