Fearing courts, Laloo mellows attack on CBI

"Ours is a federal system and the Centre must not act against the interests of the state. In my case, the Centre is using the CBI for its political gain," the RJD chief said. He sought to know "how could Delhi Police enter my state without prior permission. In future, my government will not allow the CBI to investigate cases without its permission". Under the Delhi Police Act, the CBI’s jurisdiction was confined to Delhi, he pointed out.

Commenting on Laloo’s onslaught on the CBI, former Union minister Nitish Kumar, who had a brief stint as Bihar’s Chief Minister recently, on Monday charged him with trying to intimidate the investigation agency.

He said Laloo’s comments against the CBI amounted to violation of the undertaking he submitted to the court when he was granted bail in the fodder scam case. He had provided enough ground to the court to take cognisance of the comments and cancel his bail, Nitish pointed out.

The CBI has sought Bihar Governor V C Pande’s permission to prosecute Laloo Yadav and Chief Minister Rabri Devi in a disproportionate assets case. Once a charge-sheet is filed against Rabri Devi, she may have to resign as Chief Minister. Laloo going to jail again also cannot be ruled out. Moreover, sources close to Laloo Prasad Yadav say the RJD chief has come to know that the CBI is contemplating moving the Supreme Court for cancellation of his conditional bail. This may explain why Laloo has stepped up his crusade against the CBI.

Laloo has also demanded resignation of the Central Government, arguing that the Governor should also be recalled. "It is not possible to allow repeat of the same mistake," he said.

He strongly denied possessing assets beyond his income, charging that the case against him had been lodged under pressure from the Centre. He also threatened to move the Supreme Court court against a case regarding DA against him.

An angry RJD chief told newspersons on Monday that the BJP was out to grab power by any means and was ready to join hands with anyone towards that end. It was the Centre which forced the Governor to commit wrong things, he alleged.

Laloo, who has now raised the issue of the CBI’s prerogative to approach the Governor in the DA case, did not say anything about it when he and Rabri Devi were interrogated by the CBI in the case nearly a year ago. The CBI has reportedly informed the Governor that there were discrepancies between the statements of Laloo Prasad and Rabri Devi.

Laloo said, since the DA case was sub-judice and his returns filed before the Income-Tax authorities were being assessed, the CBI could not proceed against him.