New Delhi: A special CBI court on Monday will hear the argument on the quantum of sentence for the convicts, including RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, in Rs. 139.5 crore
Lalu was declared guilty on February 15. Of the 99 accused in the case, 24 were acquitted, while three-year jail terms were pronounced for 46 accused. The fate of the remaining accused will be decided on Monday.
Lalu was found guilty under Sections 120B, 420, 409, 467, 468, 471, 477A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 13 (1), 13 (2)C of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Under these, there is a provision of sentence for a minimum of one year and a maximum of seven years of imprisonment.
Since 2017 in jail, Prasad has served most of his sentence period at the RIMS. He was taken to AIIMS in Delhi, after his health conditions started deteriorating.
On February 15, Lalu was taken into the custody and arguments on the quantum of his sentence will be heard today. The CBI counsel had earlier said the court will hear the arguments on sentence on February 18.
Prasad had earlier been sentenced to 14 years in jail amid four other fodder scam cases.
The final case was related to withdrawals of Rs 139.35 crore from Doranda treasury. The withdrawal took place during his tenure as the chief minister of undivided Bihar.
On Prasad’s plea, directions were given to the jail superintendent and RIMS director to take necessary action keeping in mind his health conditions.
The ebullient leader suffers from multiple ailments, including renal problems.
The CBI had examined 575 witnesses in the case, and filed a charge sheet against 170 people. However, only 99 accused, including Prasad, faced trial which had commenced in 1996.
In the course of the 22-year-long trial, 55 accused died, while eight turned government approvers. As many as six accused are still absconding.
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