Lalu Prasad @ Lalu Prasad Yadav Vs. State through C.B. I AIR 2003 SC 3838

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Case name: Lalu Prasad @ Lalu Prasad Yadav Vs. State through C.B. I AIR 2003 SC 3838

Case no.: Crl.A.No. 001068- 001068/2003

Petitioner: Lalu Prasad@ Lalu Prasad Yadav

Respondent: State of Bihar through CBI (AHD) Patna. 

Bench: S.N.Variava, P.venkatarama Reddi , Ashok , Bhan.

Fact of the case: The case of Lalu Prasad vs State through CBI is related to the multi-crore fodder scam that took place in the state of Bihar, India during the 1990s when Lalu Prasad Yadav was the Chief Minister of the state. The scam involved the embezzlement of government funds meant for the purchase of fodder for cattle. The funds were instead siphoned off by politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen in connivance with each other.

Lalu Prasad Yadav was named as one of the prime accused in the case along with several others. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted an investigation into the matter and filed a charge sheet against him in 1996. In the charge sheet, Lalu Prasad Yadav was accused of being involved in a criminal conspiracy to embezzle funds from the Bihar government’s animal husbandry department during his tenure as Chief Minister.

The case was initially tried in a special CBI court in Ranchi, Jharkhand. However, in 2014, the case was transferred to a CBI court in Delhi following a Supreme Court order. The trial in the case continued in Delhi and in December 2017, Lalu Prasad Yadav was found guilty of several charges including criminal conspiracy, cheating, and corruption. He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail and fined Rs 5 lakh.

Lalu Prasad Yadav challenged the verdict in the Jharkhand High Court, which granted him bail in December 2018. However, he remained in jail as he was facing trial in other cases related to the fodder scam. In March 2019, he was granted interim bail by the Jharkhand High Court on medical grounds.

Issued Raised: the case led to Lalu Prasad being disqualified from holding public office and resulted in a significant political setback for his party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), in Bihar. The case also highlighted the issue of corruption in Indian politics and the need for stricter laws and enforcement to combat it.

However, it’s worth noting that the impact of this case goes beyond just the short term. The conviction of a high-profile politician like Lalu Prasad sets an example and sends a message that corruption will not be tolerated, and that the law applies to everyone, regardless of their position or influence. This can contribute to a long-term shift in the political culture and a greater emphasis on transparency and accountability in governance.

Contention of the Petition: In the case of Lalu Prasad vs State through CBI, the petitioner (Lalu Prasad) was contending that the trial court had wrongly convicted him in a corruption case related to the fodder scam. He argued that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against him beyond reasonable doubt and that there were inconsistencies in the evidence presented. He also claimed that the trial court had not properly considered his defence and

had ignored important facts that were in his favour.

Contention of the Respondent: The respondent (State through CBI) alleged that Lalu Prasad, a former Chief Minister of Bihar, was involved in a large-scale corruption scam involving the award of contracts for the maintenance of hotels when he was the Minister of Railways. The respondent argued that Lalu Prasad abused his official position to favour a particular private company in exchange for illegal gratification. The respondent presented evidence in support of their case, including witness statements, financial records, and other documents. Lalu Prasad and his defence team contested the allegations and argued that the charges were politically motivated. Ultimately, the court found Lalu Prasad guilty of corruption and sentenced him to imprisonment.

Judgement: The case of Lalu Prasad @ Lalu Prasad Yadav Vs. State through C.B.I. (Central Bureau of Investigation) was heard by the Supreme Court of India and the judgment was delivered on August 13, 2003. 

The case involved allegations of corruption and embezzlement of funds by Lalu Prasad Yadav, who was the Chief Minister of Bihar at the time. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed a charge sheet against him, and he had filed a petition seeking the quashing of the charge sheet and the proceedings against him.

The Supreme Court, after hearing the arguments of both sides, dismissed Lalu Prasad’s petition and upheld the charge sheet filed by the CBI. The court held that the allegations of corruption against him were serious and required a full-fledged trial.

The court also observed that corruption was a major problem in the country and that the courts should take a strict view of such cases. The judgment in this case reaffirmed the principle that nobody, regardless of their position or status, is above the law and that they must face the consequences of their actions if found guilty.

Conclusion: The conclusion in the case of Lalu Prasad @ Lalu Prasad Yadav Vs. State through C.B.I. AIR  2003 SC 3838 was that the appellant, Lalu Prasad Yadav, was found guilty of corruption and criminal conspiracy in the fodder scam case, and was sentenced to five years in prison. The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the lower court and dismissed the appeal filed by the appellant.

written by Bhupendra Kumar intern under legal vidhiya

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