The special CBI court in Ranchi on Thursday deferred pronouncing the quantum of sentence against Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad and 15 other accused in a fodder scam case for the second consecutive day and indicated that it could be done through video conference on Friday.
Mr. Prasad said he has no problem appearing in court.
In a crowded court-room the CBI court judge Shiv Pal Singh said he would deliver the sentence in alphabetical order and asked the RJD chief to leave the court as his number would come up on Friday. The judge also said that he would decide on Friday whether the sentence would be given over video conference or in court. Responding to him, Mr. Prasad said he was for personal appearance and gave an assurance there would be no slogans raised in the courtroom by his supporters.
Agency reports said the CBI judge also said that he had received phone calls from the RJD chief’s well-wishers but he should not worry as he would only follow the law. The judge, however, did not elaborate from whom he had received the calls, said the reports.
‘I am innocent’
However, lawyers who were present in the courtroom told the media Mr. Prasad told the judge that he was innocent and should be acquitted. Mr. Prasad and the judge also exchanged a few sentences in a lighter vein, they said.
Later, amid tight security Mr. Prasad returned to the Birsa Munda Central jail of Ranchi where he, along with the other convicts in the case, is lodged.
The case, RC 64(A)/96, pertains to the fraudulent withdrawal of ₹84.5 crore from Deoghar (now in Jharkhand) treasury between 1991-1994.
Like the last two days, a large number of RJD leaders and workers were present outside the jail gate and on the court premises.
“We’ll stay here even on Friday…he (Lalu Prasad) is our leader…how can we leave him here all alone,” said RJD leader and party legislator Vijay Prakash.
Senior party leader Raghuvansh Prasad too was present on the court premises giving bites to local news channels. However, no family member of Mr. Lalu Prasad was around. Party sources said they were busy offering prayers at temples in Patna.
On Wednesday the court issued contempt notices to senior RJD leaders Raghuvansh Prasad, Shivanand Tiwari, leader of opposition Tejaswi Yadav and Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari for criticising the court verdict in the media on December 23. The RJD leaders said they would respond to the notice when they receive it.
‘One to seven years’
Meanwhile, legal luminaries told The Hindu that for the sections under which Mr. Prasad has been convicted, the quantum of imprisonment could be a minimum of one year to maximum seven years.
“But, it all depends on the evidence collected by the court and how the judge observes and interprets it,” said Patna-based lawyer Y.V. Giri.
In Patna, the RJD leaders have been saying, “Come what may, the party is ready for the next battle to chase away fascist forces from the country and the State as well.”
