In a significant development in one of India’s most notorious corruption cases, the Supreme Court has scheduled hearings for April on a CBI petition challenging the suspension of sentence for RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the Deoghar District Treasury scam. The central probe agency argues that the convicts, including the former Bihar Chief Minister, are unlawfully free despite their convictions.
The petition stems from a special CBI court’s 2017 ruling that sentenced Yadav to 3.5 years in prison for his role in siphoning off approximately Rs 89 lakh from the Deoghar treasury between 1990 and 1994. Prosecutors allege fake receipts were used to withdraw funds allocated for animal husbandry department purchases, including medicines and hospital equipment worth Rs 4.7 crore.
During Tuesday’s hearing before Justices MM Sundresh and NK Singh, CBI counsel emphasized that the accused remain at large post-conviction, urging the apex court to intervene. The bench acknowledged pending files cluttering the system and directed closure of cases where defendants have passed away, while fixing the next date in April.
This case is part of a larger fodder scam saga that has ensnared Yadav in multiple convictions. Beyond Deoghar, he faces sentences in Chaibasa treasury cases, Dumka treasury fraud, and the Doranda matter. The scandals, erupting during his tenure as Bihar’s chief minister, exposed systemic loot of public funds through fictitious animal husbandry expenditures.
As political circles buzz with anticipation, the Supreme Court’s decision could reshape Yadav’s legal battles and reignite debates on accountability for high-profile politicians. With elections on the horizon, the outcome holds implications far beyond the courtroom.