lalu’s man Sinha gets slap on wrist for bid to close three fodder scam cases
Snubbing CBI Director Ranjit Sinha, Solicitor-General Mohan Parasaran has opposed the agency’s top brass’ move to drop three fodder scam cases against RJD chief lalu Prasad. Sinha has recommended dropping of these cases on the ground that they were based on similar evidence and conspiracy charges were common in all the cases.
In his legal opinion, Parasaran has said courts and not prosecutors should decide on dropping cases against the RJD supremo. Parasaran gave his opinion to the CBI in response to a reference from the agency. Following Parasaran’s opinion on the matter, the JD(U) hit out at Sinha and questioned the Government for appointing such a man to the post.
Parasaran’s opinion was sought by the CBI Director following differences between him and Director of Prosecution OP Verma on the issue of closing of these cases against lalu. Sinha had also differed with other senior officers, including the head of CBI Patna Zone, who opposed dropping of the cases.
“I disagree with the Branch, HOZ (Head of Zone) and DOP. Since I do not agree with the DOP, let the matter be referred to the Solicitor-General for his opinion on the legal issues raised in the petitions in all the three regular cases referred to in the comments of DOP,” Sinha had said on February 26.
The matter was examined by the CBI at various levels in which the Director of Prosecution had opined that the present case did not attract provisions of Section 300 (1) of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and Article 20 (2) of the Constitution relating to double jeopardy. Slamming Sinha, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav said: “The Government’s choice was wrong about this CBI Director. You never know which side he will switch to. He is not a right person. We are gathering details about him.”
Yadav was reacting to reports over Parasaran’s opinion against Sinha’s move to give lalu leeway in the ongoing fodder scam cases. In his stint as CBI DIG in Patna during the fodder scam investigation, Sinha faced allegation of trying to protect lalu.