Laloo gets bail in fodder scam

Justice P K Sarin overruled the objections of the CBI and said he did not find any of the charges levelled against Laloo tenable.

During the marathon hearing which continued for three days, the CBI charged Laloo as the prime conspirator in the fodder scam. The CBI said that Laloo may tamper with the documents. It also pointed out that he was in regular touch with the co-accused of the case.

Laloo has already secured bail in two other cases following the failure of the CBI to chargesheet him within the mandatory 90-day period of custody while the court termed his detention as illegal in a third case in which the trial court had not taken cognizance of the chargesheet filed without the sanction from the Governor. Justice Sarin held that Laloo was in no position to tamper with the documents and his talking to co-accused was nothing unusual.

The judge was not satisfied with the submission of CBI counsel — who fumbled constantly while presenting facts — that budgetary documents, confessions of the co-accused, former Chief Secretary and Finance Secretary, notings of the former DG, Vigilance, and extensions granted to prime accused in the fodder scam revealed that Laloo masterminded the fraudulent withdrawals.

Justice Sarin also did not entertain the argument of the CBI that as Finance Minister Laloo was aware of the excessive withdrawals which were fraudulent in nature. “How can a Finance Minister know every thing when he has to deal with different people and how can a person going through various figures know they are fraudulent withdrawals,” the judge asked.

A senior CBI official said that they were not going to the Supreme Court against the order of the High Court. Though the High Court passed the order around 4 p.m., Laloo could not come out of the BMP camp jail today, since the order could not reach the jail authorities. According to sources close to Laloo, he himself dropped the idea of coming out today and directed his aids to move tomorrow.

The granting of bail to Laloo was celebrated with much fanfare at the official residence of Chief Minister Rabri Devi.

“God has listened to our request,”the Chief Minister said. The RJD plans massive celebrations tomorrow. According to minister Munshilal Ray they will bring out a procession in the morning.

On receiving information of his bail, Laloo conveyed his desire to visit Laxmanpur Bathe tomorrow after his release.