Fodder scam: Lalu to serve 7-year jail term consecutively, says CBI court

Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], Mar 24 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday informed that former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad, will serve the seven year jail term, awarded in Dumka treasury case 'consecutively'.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo was earlier today sentenced to seven years imprisonment under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections and seven years under sections related to PC Act in the fourth fodder scam case.

"Lalu Prasad has been sentenced to seven years each under different sections of IPC and sections of Prevention of corruption Act, both sentences to run consecutively," counsel appearing for CBI, Vishnu Sharma told ANI.

However, the lawyer of former Bihar chief minister on Saturday said that his client will serve the seven-year jail term in the case concurrently.

Lalu's lawyer Prabhat Kumar further informed that he has also been slapped with fine of Rs. 60 lakh in the case.

"Imprisonment of seven years each has been given under Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Corruption Act to my client. While both to run concurrently. Also, a total fine will be Rs. 60 lakh," Prabhat Kumar, Lalu's lawyer told ANI.

The case pertains to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 3.5 crore from the Dumka treasury by Animal Husbandry Department officials between 1991 and 1996 when Lalu was the chief minister of undivided Bihar.

Lalu was earlier on March 19 held guilty in the Dumka treasury case by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court. (ANI)