Bihar timebombs have begun to tick

Taslimuddin8217;s inclusion in the Union Ministry is indeed an act of defiance by the RJD, given the fact that he had to quit the H D Deve Gowda ministry in 1996 after taking over as the minister of state for home. The very same cases which resulted in a huge public outcry8212;and led to his resignation8212; are pending. Laloo Prasad Yadav, who is worth more than Rs 60 lakh 8216;8216;excluding the cost of vehicles and jewellery8217;8217; according to the affidavit filed before the EC, is facing a CBI case for possessing over Rs 46 lakh beyond known sources of his income.

Also, there are six criminal cases pending against him in various courts related to the multi-crore-rupee 8216;8216;fodder scam.8217;8217; The CBI has charged Laloo8212;under different sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act8212;with 8216;8216;conspiracy to protect scamsters and providing them protective umbrellas and the misuse of power as public servant.8217;8217; All seven cases against him are at different stages of trial.

The disproportionate assets case is in the last stages of trial at a special CBI court in Patna. Six cases were instituted in 1996.

In 1997, he handed over the chief minister8217;s chair to the safe hands of wife Rabri Devi before going to jail. He is now on bail in all the cases.

As per the affidavit filed by Taslimuddin, there are nine criminal cases pending against him8212; they range from attempt to murder, theft, extortion and wrongful assembly to possession of explosives. Interestingly enough, only in one case have charges been framed by a competent court. In the rest, charges have not been framed against the RJD strongman, though cognisance was taken in all cases long ago8212;in one case, as early as 1982.