Date:08/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/08/stories/2004120804891100.htm

National

Lalu, Rabri not interfering in fodder scam cases: CBI

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 7. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court denying the allegation that the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, and his wife and Bihar Chief Minister, Rabri Devi, were interfering in the Rs. 900-crore fodder scam cases.

Acting on a petition filed by Sushil Modi, BJP MP, and Rajiv Ranjan Singh (JD-U) MP, the court on October 1, issued a notice to Mr. Prasad and his wife to show cause as to why their bail in the fodder scam and disproportionate assets cases should not be cancelled since Mr. Prasad was allegedly interfering in the trial ever since he became the Railway Minister.

The petitioners alleged that a Rs. 45-lakh disproportionate assets case against Mr. Prasad and Ms. Rabri Devi was recently disposed of by the Income Tax Tribunal by deputing a member-judicial from Delhi to Patna for two weeks to check up the case and settle it before that officer retired.

The petitioners submitted that when Mr. Prasad was granted bail in the fodder scam cases, liberty was given to the CBI, the prosecuting agency, to initiate proceedings for cancellation of his bail if such events [interference in the case] took place. This was ``indicative of clear interference in the trial proceedings.''

Denying the allegations as incorrect, misleading and misconceived, the CBI said the petition deserved to be dismissed as the petitioners were seeking to achieve their political purpose. The cases were going on without interference and the Public Prosecutors were not changed as alleged by the petitioners. From the beginning, the prosecution was conducted by L.R. Ansari, Senior Public Prosecutor. After the arguments of the prosecution were completed, it was decided to avail his services in other Animal Husbandry cases. If necessary, Mr. Ansari would be requested to do the rejoinder to the defence arguments.

Denies allegations

In his response, Mr. Prasad and Ms. Rabri Devi denied the allegations that they were interfering with the investigation and trying to derail the trial. They said the Assembly elections to Bihar were to be held early next year and this petition had been filed for cheap popularity. The averments were false and motivated, they said.