Lalu convicted in 4th fodder scam case, Mishra acquitted

CBI judge Shiv Pal Singh held guilty the 69-year-old RJD chief along with 18 others while Mishra was among 12 acquitted in connection with the case RC 38 A/96 about the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 3.13 crore from Dumka treasury in the early 1990s.

The charges against the convicted persons are 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 409 (misappropriation), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471 (using forged documents as genuine), 477A/IPC and section 13 (2) with 13 (i) c &d of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (misuse of official position for pecuniary advantage by the public servant and others).

Emerging out of the court, Prasad told reporters he did not wish to make any comment, while party vice-president Raghubansh Prasad Singh said that they would challenge the order in the high court.

The judge will hear arguments on the quantum of the sentence from March 21, according to a CBI counsel.

Monday's decision is the fourth conviction for Prasad in fodder scam cases about illegal withdrawal of money from government treasury in the 1990s in the undivided Bihar when RJD was in power.