The special CBI court of AK Mishra of Ranchi district civil court on Thursday issued release order of the release of former Bihar chief minister and RJD national president Lalu Prasad from judicial custody in Dumka treasury fodder scam case.
The court passed the order after senior lawyer Prabhat Kumar appearing on behalf of Lalu Prasad furnished bail bond along with two sureties each worth Rs one lakh besides depositing fine of Rs 10 lakh in cash. Kumar introduced Raju Gope and Nishikant as bailer of Lalu Prasad. Gope is said to be a software engineer and his brother is said to be associated with the RJD. Nishikant is said to be a radiologist at a private hospital and like Gope his brother is also associated with the RJD
Lalu Prasad got bail from Jharkhand High court in Dumka fodder scam case on April 17. But his lawyers were unable to furnish bail bond before the special CBI court due to a policy decision taken by the Bar Council of India (BCI).
In the wake of the second wave of Covid 19, BCI restricted lawyers from appearing before any physical and virtual court and to carry judicial matters. Two days after he got bail, the high court and lower courts were closed as part of precaution against Covid 19. And in the meantime, BCI also issued an order to restrict lawyers from participating in any judicial work. It was stated that the decision was taken to save the life of lawyers in the wake of death of lawyers due to covid 19 reported from different parts of the country. But the BCI on Wednesday evening amended the order and allowed lawyers to take-up judicial works in the cases which are urgent in nature.
“As the court has issued release order Lalu Prasad is no more in judicial custody. We have served the copy of the release order to Birsa Munda Central Jail which in turn is learnt to have informed AIIMS, Delhi that he is not under judicial custody now. He is under treatment at AIIMS,” said Kumar.
Serially convicted in four fodder scam cases Lalu Prasad had been in judicial custody from December 23, 2017. Dumka treasury case RC 38A/96 related to illegal withdrawal of Rs 3.76 crore from Dumka treasury was the last case in which he secured bail. ;
The bail and the release order have come at a time when there is a medical emergency across the country due to the outbreak of Covid 19. The 72 years old Lalu Prasad suffering from multiple health problems needs extra care and precaution.
“The court has freed him so he can go back to his home. But he is under treatment and doctors at AIIMS can say that whether he needs further treatment at hospital and what can be the safest way for him during the pandemic,” said one of the close confidants of the Lalu family.
