Journalism of Courage
The Supreme Court Friday sought the response of the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI to a bail petition filed by RJD chief Lalu Prasad,who is undergoing a five-year jail term after being convicted in a fodder scam case.
Taking up Lalus petition,the Bench comprising Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi directed the CBI,the prosecuting agency in the case,to file its response within two weeks and posted the matter for hearing to December 13.
Appearing for Lalu,senior advocate Ram Jethmalani submitted that even though the RJD chief was one among the 44 persons convicted in the case,his was the only bail plea rejected by the trial court and the Jharkhand High Court. He said so far 37 convicts have been granted bail in the case. He also submitted that it would take a long time for the Jharkhand High Court to dispose of his appeal against conviction.
Pleading for bail,Jethmalani said his client had already spent nearly 10 months in jail during the trial and nearly two months after the conviction. He also said there was no chance of him absconding from the country after getting bail.
Lalu,whose membership of Lok Sabha was cancelled after his conviction,moved the apex court challenging the order of the Jharkhand High Court which had dismissed his bail plea.
