All eyes have shifted to the Special CBI court here as former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief lalu Prasad, a prime accused in a fodder scam case, reached here on Sunday, to hear verdict on his fate on Monday.
The 17-year-old high-profile case no. RC 20A relates to fake withdrawal of Rs 37.7 crore from Chaibasa Treasury. It involves 44 persons, including another former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra. lalu arrived here by a regular flight accompanied by his Son Tejaswi, along with several other top party leaders from Patna. lalu, however, against his nature chose not to comment on the issue and said that his advocates will brief them after the judgement is pronounced on Monday.
"I will not make any comment on the issue and appeal to all the mediapersons not to run after me. My advocates will brief you on Monday after the judgement is pronounced," said lalu. He also said that he had come to hear the judgement after being summoned by the court. He requested the mediapersons to take rest and let them also take rest.
Party leaders expressing full faith in the judiciary, believed that the judgement will come in his favour. "We have full faith in judiciary and hope that the decision will be in laluji's favour," said former Bihar Minister Jaiprakash Singh Yadav. When asked about RJD's fate in case lalu is convicted, he said it is not going to affect the future of the party.
"lalu is a unanimous leader of the party who enjoys full support of the masses and is run with the blessings of God. Everything is organised in the party," said Jaiprakash Yadav. Former Union Minister of State Ashraf Fathmi also said that the party is united under lalu's leadership and will continue to be run under his guidance. "The party was also run earlier when lalu was in jail," added Fathmi.
Top party leaders like Suresh Paswan, Jaiprakash Singh Yadav, Sanjay Yadav, Girinath Singh and Annapurna Devi and several party workers thronged Birsa Munda Airport to receive lalu. The airport was echoed by slogans shouted for lalu as he came out of the airport terminal. The RJD chief went straight to Hotel BNR Chanakya from the airport where he has been lodged in the special VIP cottage.
Judgement is expected to come around 12 noon on Monday and those who are convicted will immediately be sent to jail. "Those convicts, however, who are pronounced imprisonment of up to three years, will be directed to argue on the point of sentence and might be granted bail with an opportunity to appeal in the higher court," said an advocate.
Meanwhile, the district administration kept its officials on their toes prepared to meet any untoward situation after the judgement. "We are fully-prepared to deal with any situation on Monday after the judgment is pronounced and have deployed 75 policemen on the court campus while 100 policemen have been kept in standby to deal with any untoward situation, if arises," said SP City Manoj Ratan Chauthe. Ten officers have also been deployed along with the police force for Monday, he added.
According to Chauthe, "The court has already instructed the police that any slogan shouted by the supporters will strictly be considered as contempt of court and has directed the police to arrest them immediately. "In case he is convicted, he will directly be taken to the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar," he added.