Supreme Court Upholds Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Bail in Fodder Scam, Orders Expedited Hearing
In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India on Monday upheld the bail granted to former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in connection with the multi-crore fodder scam. The Court also directed the Jharkhand High Court to expedite the hearing of pending appeals in the case.
A bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan passed the order while dismissing a petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging the bail granted by the High Court. The Supreme Court observed that the appeals have been pending for a considerable period and need to be resolved expeditiously.
The fodder scam, which came to light in the 1990s, involves the fraudulent withdrawal of funds from the Bihar government’s treasury under the guise of purchasing animal fodder. Lalu Prasad Yadav was convicted in several cases related to the scam and has been granted bail in multiple instances due to his age and health conditions.
The top court’s decision comes as a relief to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief, who has maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings. However, the Court made it clear that the bail does not imply any judgment on the merits of the case, and the High Court must expedite the final hearing.
Legal experts have noted that the direction to expedite the hearing aims to ensure timely justice, given the lengthy delays that have characterized the case. The CBI, which had opposed the bail, argued that the seriousness of the offences warranted strict measures. The Supreme Court, however, emphasized the principle that bail is the rule and jail is the exception, especially when the trial is likely to be prolonged.
The fodder scam remains one of India’s largest financial frauds, with estimates of losses exceeding Rs 900 crore. Several politicians and bureaucrats, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, have been convicted in related cases. The expedited hearing in the High Court is expected to bring finality to the legal proceedings that have spanned over two decades.
