Centre opposes West Bengal’s suit in SC, says CBI an independent agency
The state government had sought a stay of investigation in FIR registered by the CBI in cases of post-poll violence in West Bengal in pursuance of the Calcutta High Court order.
The sentencing of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in a case of fodder scam is likely to take place on Thursday, a day after a special CBI court in Ranchi deferred the pronouncement of the quantum of punishment.
The special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) judge Shivpal Singh delayed the sentencing of the former Bihar chief minister along with 15 others due to a condolence meet for an advocate which was held in the court premises in the afternoon.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief, who was lodged in the Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi after being convicted on December 23, was brought to the court in the morning on Wednesday and was present inside when the hearing was on.
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He was taken away at around 12 noon.
Lalu’s lawyer had on Tuesday said that they would urge the court for minimum punishment owing to the RJD chief’s age.
Lalu is likely to get three to seven years’ punishment, as per reports. If he is awarded three years’ sentence, he will be able to get bail soon.
His co-accused and former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra was let off in the case pertaining to embezzlement of over Rs. 85 lakh from the Deoghar Treasury between 1991 and 1994.
A total of 17 accused including Lalu were pronounced guilty by the court while six were let off.
The RJD chief has already been convicted in another fodder scam case that cost him his Lok Sabha seat and disqualified him from contesting elections. Both Lalu and Jagannath Mishra are out on bail in the case.
Hearing in the multi-million fodder scam case was completed on December 13 in a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court of Ranchi.
In all, there were 34 accused in the case, out of which 11 died during the course of the trial, while one turned CBI approver and admitted the crime.
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