CBI opposes bail plea of Lalu Prasad Yadav

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday opposed in the Supreme Court the bail plea of Rashtryia Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad, who is serving jail term in connection with fodder scam cases, saying he is likely to indulge in political activities ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

In the counter affidavit, CBI stated that in the "garb of political activities during the elections, Lalu sought for bail, which should not be granted.

The probe agency said in any case Prasad has been in a hospital ward for over eight months and indulging in political activities.

Yadav was convicted in 2017 as he has been held guilty of a multi-million rupees scam involving the embezzlement of government funds meant for cattle fodder in the 1990s and was at a hospital in Ranchi for much of his sentence so far.

The agency further said Yadav who claimed to be so unwell that he cannot even remain in jail has now suddenly become physically fit and is seeking bail.

"It is submitted that simultaneous raising of pleas for bails on medical grounds and bail to guide the party and to carry out all essential responsibilities as a party president in ensuing Lok Sabha elections are mutually contradictory and manifest that in the garb of bail on medical ground the petitioner in essence wants to pursue his political activities which is impermissible in law," the CBI said.

The RJD chief, currently lodged in the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi, has challenged the January 10 verdict of the Jharkhand High Court dismissing his bail plea. The three cases in which Prasad has been convicted are related to the over Rs 900-crore fodder scam, which pertains to fraudulent withdrawal of money from the treasuries in the Animal Husbandry department in the early 1990s, when Jharkhand was part of Bihar.