The Jharkhand High Court on Friday, 22 April, granted bail to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in connection with a fodder scam case relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 139.5 crore from the Doranda treasury in undivided Bihar.
Ranchi High Court judge Apresh Kumar Singh granted the bail 42 weeks after Lalu's conviction in the Doranda case. The special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court had convicted the RJD chief on 21 February and awarded him five years' jail term. Since then, four hearings have taken place in the court for his bail.
During the last hearing, the court had asked the CBI to clear its objection on why Yadav should not be given a bail. Though the CBI filed its reply in the court, the judge was not satisfied with the arguments.
"Ranchi High Court has granted bail in Doranda case and the copy of the decision has been sent to the authority of Hotwar jail Ranchi. The jail authority will further communicate to AIIMS Delhi for the release of Lalu Prasad," Kumar said.
Currently, Yadav is admitted in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi due to his multiple health issues. He suffers from kidney disease, blood pressure, and lung infection, besides other ailments and is under the custody of jail in the AIIMS Delhi.
Prabhat Kumar said that it will take two to three days for Lalu to walk out of the jail.
Tej Pratap Yadav Hails Bail
Welcoming the development, Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of Lalu Prasad Yadav, said the granting of bail has come in the "pious" month of Ramzan.
"We have been praying to God since long. Finally, our prayers have been answered and my father has been granted bail. We are very grateful to God and the court of law," he said.
On Friday evening, the RJD has organised an iftar party at the residence of Rabri Devi in Patna.
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