The Ranchi civil court campus on Monday was turned into a fortress as the high-profile accused in the fodder scam -- lalu Prasad and Jagganath Mishra -- waving at their supporters gathered outside the court room, made their way to the court of special (CBI) Judge Pravas Kumar Singh around10.30 am.
Supporters from Khagaria, Darbhanga, and Patna started pouring in since morning but the tight security around the court premises kept the anxious supporters at a distance. Tensed sympathisers of lalu anticipated relief for their leader who, in their eyes, was accused of a crime of lesser magnitude.
"The amount we are talking about in this scam is miniscule if you compare all scams till date. If lalu is being held guilty then even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should also be sent to jail for scams that has happened during his tenure," said an angry supporter from Khagaria.
RJD MPs Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Prabhunath Singh, and lalu's brothers-in-law Prabhunath Yadav and Sadhu Yadav were among the heavyweights who turned up at the court premises and were thrown in a state of utter disbelief following lalu's conviction by the court. lalu's son Tejasavi Yadav also accompanied his father and bravely replied to the reporters' questions after the judgement was delivered.
"He (lalu) has been falsely implicated so I believe that the court will be kind enough to him on October 3. Entire family is united at the moment," said Prabhunath Yadav, lalu's brother-in-law.
Interestingly, supporters and senior RJD leaders donning white clothes claimed that there is no blemish on their leader and the charges being levelled against the former Bihar Chief Minister is a part of greater design plotted by arch rivals to finish his political career.
Senior party leader and Maharajganj MP Prabhunath Singh said, "lalu will emerge stronger after this verdict. He began his career from Jail and he can manage affairs from the prison."
Singh added, the party will not be affected because of the verdict and the RJD will bag more seats in the upcoming lok Sabha elections.
Nonetheless, stalwarts in the RJD criticised the UPA Government besides Bharatiya Janta Party and Janata Dal-United for stalling the Ordinance, which seeks to reverse the Supreme Court judgement mandating immediate disqualification of lawmakers convicted for a punishable criminal offence.
"The BJP and JD(U) colluded on the Ordinance, which was sent for the President's approval. What could have motivated them after they agreed to the provisions of the ordinance in all party meetingIJ" said Vaishali MP Raghuvansh Prasad Singh.
The Vaishali MP questioned the intentions of the UPA Government and Rahul Gandhi for taking U-turn on the Ordinance.
Jagdishpur MlA Bhai Dinesh Kumar Singh could not hold his emotions and burst into tears after the verdict was delivered. The MlA said, "This is what happens when someone talks about minorities, Dalits and poor people."
Incidentally, a minor scuffle broke out between lalu's security personnel and the district police. Men deployed in lalu's security allegedly tried to enter the court but were stopped at the doorstep by the district police. Things were brought under control after district police communicated the rules to commandos deployed to protect the former Bihar Chief Minister.
The verdict dampened the mood of those who had come with crackers to celebrate judgement in favour of their beloved leader.