Supreme Court to hear Lalu Prasad Yadav's bail plea on April 10, asks CBI to file reply

Supreme Court on Friday said it will hear on April 10 a plea of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav seeking bail in three cases related to multi-crore-rupee fodder scam in which he has been convicted.

A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked CBI to file reply by April 9 and said Yadav's bail plea will be taken up for hearing next April 10.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo, sought urgent listing of bail plea saying tice has been issued in matter.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said ncy needs to file reply in matter.

"You (CBI) file reply by April 9. We will take up matter (Yadav's bail plea) on April 10," bench said.

In previous hearing, Prasad told top court that he has been in jail for 22 months following his conviction in three cases.

Sibal had told bench that Prasad was sentenced to three-and-a-half years, 14 years and five years in prison in three cases respectively.

"I was convicted in three cases based on same evidence and under same offences. I have already served 22 months in jail.

"How can I be convicted three times for same offence, based on same evidence?," Sibal had asked court.

court had n asked Sibal about offences for which Prasad was convicted.

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"I have been convicted under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating) of IPC and section 13 of Prevention of Corruption Act," lawyer had said.

RJD chief, lodged in Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi, challenged January 10 verdict of Jharkhand High Court dismissing his bail plea.

three cases in which Prasad has been convicted are related to over-Rs 900-crore fodder scam, which pertains to fraudulent withdrawal of money from treasuries in Animal Husbandry department in early 1990s, when Jharkhand was part of Bihar.

RJD was in power in Bihar with Prasad as chief minister when scam had allegedly taken place. 

In high court, RJD supremo cited old and poor health for grant of bail. Prasad (71) said he was suffering from diabetes, blood pressure and or ailments and that he had already obtained bail in one of fodder scam cases.

He has been convicted for fraudulent withdrawal of money from Deoghar, Dumka and two Chaibasa treasuries situated in Jharkhand. 

He is currently facing trial in ar fodder scam case pertaining to Doranda treasury.

RJD chief has been undergoing treatment at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) at Ranchi for last few months.

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