Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad on Saturday was sentenced to three-and-a-half years jail in a fodder scam case by the Special CBI court in Ranchi. The court also slapped a ₹10 lakh fine on Mr. Prasad.
"The court has awarded three-and-a-half years jail to Lalu Prasad and ₹10 lakh fine to him. If he fails to deposit the penalty money, it will amount to six more months of imprisonment to him," Prabhat Kumar, counsel for Lalu Prasad told media persons.
"Now we'll move Ranchi high court for bail on Monday," added Mr. Kumar. The CBI judge pronounced the quantum of sentence to all 16 convicts in the fodder scam case through video conference.
The court sentenced all 16 convicts in the case, from seven years to three-and-a-half years. The case pertained to fraudulent withdrawal of ₹84.5 lakh from the Deoghar district (now in Jharkhand) treasury during the period 1991-94.
In Patna, the RJD held a meeting of party leaders at the 10, Circular road residence of Rabri Devi, in which party leaders imposed faith in party chief Lalu Prasad.
"The BJP, RSS and Nitish Kumar had got threatened with Lalu Prasad's effort for opposition's unity against BJP and Narendra Modi after the party had organised BJP bhagao, Desh bachao rally in Patna, so they conspired to send him to jail… but we’ll not be cowed down with Lalu Prasad in jail but will come out more stronger," said Tejaswi Yadav.
"Lalu Prasad lives in our heart," echoed other party leaders.
