Laloo, Rabri Devi charged

By Our Staff Correspondent

PATNA, JUNE 9. The CBI-designated court today framed charges against the Bihar Chief Minister, Mrs. Rabri Devi, and her husband and RJD president, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, in the disproportionate assets case and decided to start the trial on July 4.

The special CBI judge, Mr. S. K. Lal, dismissed the petition of Mr. Yadav, principal accused, and Mrs. Rabri Devi, for exonerating them from the case.Mr. Yadav and his wife were present in the court when the judge delivered the order and pleaded ``not guilty''.

The CBI has listed 109 witnesses in the case, which according to a Patna High Court order, must be completed within six months. The CBI has accused Mr. Yadav of amassing assets worth about Rs. 46 lakhs in excess of his known sources of income and named Mrs. Rabri Devi co-accused on charges of abetment.

According to the CBI counsel, Mr. L. R. Ansari, the accused, if convicted, could face a jail term of up to seven years.

The CBI has interrogated Mr. Yadav and his wife two times separately and raided the Chief Minister's residence once before seeking the Governor's sanction to prosecute Mr. Yadav. The Governor's sanction came in the midst of the political drama that unfolded after the Assembly elections. The BJP and the Samata Party once again demanded the Chief Minister's resignation on moral grounds.

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