LIVE: Lalu Prasad Yadav sentenced to five years in prison for Fodder Scam

Lalu Yadav, convicted in the fodder scam, was sentenced to five years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 25 lakh. He also stands disqualified from the parliament post sentencing.

Former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra and Janata Dal-United MP Jagdish Sharma too were sentenced to four years imprisonment in the case.

RJD spokesperson states that they will appeal the sentence in a higher court. “Laluji is innocent, he is a victim of political conspiracy. The BJP and Nitish (Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar) are behind this,” RJD leader Ramkripal Yadav stated.

The sentencing in fodder scam case announced today by the CBI court that has convicted 44 individuals including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav

As Yadav's lawyer completed arguments in the case on September 17, special CBI Judge PK Singh will pronounce the judgment in the case No RC 20 A/96 today. Yadav moved the Jharkhand High Court and later the Supreme Court, seeking change of the judge in the case. Both the courts dismissed his petition, and directed him to complete argument in the case before the CBI court. Yadav had in his petition alleged that trial court judge PK Singh was biased against him as he is a relative of PK Shahi, Education Minister in the Nitish Kumar Government in Bihar, "who is his (Yadav''s) biggest political enemy".

Authorities in Bihar sounded an alert across the state, apprehending trouble after the court pronounced verdict in a multi-crore fodder scam case involving Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.

The case pertains to alleged fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 37.7 crore from Chaibasa Treasury in the 1990s. The FIR was lodged by Bihar government in February 1996 but the case was transferred to CBI a month later. CBI had investigated the scam for a year and the charge sheet was filed in 1997. The charges were framed in 2000 following which the Special CBI court commenced trial against Lalu Yadav and 44 other accused.

RJD's plea had faced stiff opposition from JD-U leader Rajiv Ranjan who submitted that it would be a ‘travesty of justice’ if the judge is transferred at the far end of the trial. He submitted that it would give a wrong impression to the entire country if the judge is transferred and raised a question on RJD supremo's petition seeking transfer of the judge who has been hearing the case since 2011.

The fodder scam also known as "Chara Ghotala" involved the siphoning of funds from the Bihar Government treasury. The alleged theft spanned over several years, and many Bihar state government administrative and elected officials across multiple administrations were allegedly engaged in it.

Additionally, there are also allegations that they were involved in the fabrication of "vast herds of fictitious livestock" for which fodder, medicines and animal husbandry equipment was supposedly procured. The fodder scam was unearthed in Bihar in 1996 when Lalu Prasad was the Chief Minister of the state. He had resigned from the post in 1997 after a court issued an arrest warrant against him in connection with one of the cases.

Besides the RJD supremo, other accused persons include former Bihar Chief Minister Mishra and JD(U) MP Jagdish Sharma.

The judgement in the fodder scam is likely to have a bearing on Bihar politics, as the RJD chief will face immediate disqualification as a Lok Sabha member if convicted as per a Supreme Court order that an MP or legislator would stand disqualified immediately if convicted by a court for crimes with punishment of two years or more.

The government later promulgated an ordinance to undo the apex court order, prompting opposition BJP to allege that it had been done to protect Lau Prasad Yadav in case he is indicted in the fodder scam.

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi has, however, slammed the ordinance as "complete nonsense" which should be "torn up and thrown away," leaving its fate uncertain.

The RJD chief faces immediate disqualification as Lok Sabha member under a recent Supreme Court order that an MP or MLA would stand disqualified immediately if convicted by a court for crimes with punishment of two years or more and under some other laws even without jail sentence.

The August judgement of the Supreme Court struck down a provision in the electoral law that provided protection to sitting MPs and MLAs by allowing them to continue in their posts if they appeal against a lower court conviction and secure a stay of the order.

Lalu would have got protection from disqualification if the ordinance promulgated by the Centre was cleared by President Pranab Mukherjee but he is said to have some reservations and raised questions over it.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has compounded problems by attacking the ordinance and calling for its withdrawal, virtually sealing its fate.

RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha said they would challenge the order in a higher court after the sentence is known.

We will fight this issue electorally: Lalu's son Tejaswi

"We will appeal in the high court against the order. We will also take up the issue in the people's court. We will give a fitting reply in the polls," Tejsawi told reporters after his father was taken to jail.

Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan on Monday said that the law is taking its own course in the fodder scam case surrounding former Bihar chief ministers Jagannath Mishra and Lalu Prasad Yadav, and assured his party’s full support to the RJD during this tough time.

Meanwhile, expressing his sadness over Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav’s conviction in connection with the multi-crore fodder scam, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said the former will provide evidences of his innocence before a higher court.

RJD Chief Lalu Prasad will appeal in the Jharkhand High Court against his conviction in a fodder scam case, his family said on Monday and alleged he had fallen victim to 'conspiracy' by his rivals.

Also read: Lalu Prasad Yadav's black cat commandos may be withdrawn

Terming the conviction of Lalu Prasad in the fodder scam case as a "defining moment" for Indian politics, BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Monday charged the UPA government with approving the ordinance on lawmakers to protect the RJD chief.

Laloo Prasad Yadav: India ex-minister convicted in 'fodder scam'

A former Indian minister, Laloo Prasad Yadav, has been sent to jail after he was convicted in a long-running corruption case.

A court found him guilty of corruption and criminal conspiracy in a notorious case known as the "fodder scam", which first came to light in 1996.

He was charged with embezzling state funds intended for cattle fodder while he was chief minister of Bihar state.

Yadav, who later became federal railways minister, denied the charge.

He will be sentenced on 3 October. He has been sent to Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi in the eastern state of Jharkhand.

He is among 45 people convicted by a special court.

Lawyers present in the Ranchi court said Yadav could be jailed for between four and seven years.

Last March, a court framed charges against Yadav and two other senior politicians in the case which focused on the fraudulent withdrawal of funds by officials from treasuries in the districts of Banka and Bhagalpur between 1994 and 1996.

Yadav said he had been falsely implicated.

There were a total of 56 defendants in the case. During the trial, seven of them died, two decided to give evidence for the prosecution, one admitted to the crime and one was discharged, reports say.

Correspondents say Monday's verdict will be crucial for Yadav's political fortunes as a recent executive order protecting convicted MPs and legislators from Supreme Court ban on holding office is likely to be withdrawn.

In an uncharacteristic outburst last week, Rahul Gandhi, senior leader of India's ruling Congress, said the move by his government to protect convicted MPs was "complete nonsense".

In 2006, a court acquitted Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi - also a former chief minister of Bihar - in a case where they stood accused of amassing wealth disproportionate to their income.

Laloo Yadav is one of India's most colourful politicians. He leads a regional party in Bihar.

He resigned as chief minister of Bihar after the allegations of corruption arose. His wife Rabri Devi was installed in his place.

Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal party lost power in state elections in 2005.

Gloom descends on Rabri Devi's official residence as husband Lalu Yadav is convicted in fodder scam

Official residence of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's wife Rabri Devi's today here wore a deserted look after Prasad was convicted by a special CBI court in a fodder scam corruption case.

The gates of her official residence on 10, Circular Road, were closed since this morning.

The security personnel deployed outside the residence were seen politely turning away visitors, including media persons.

A number of electronic news channels reporters and crew were seen standing outside the house.

The state unit of the RJD office also wore a deserted look with only a handful of party workers.

Lalu Prasad and 44 others were today convicted by a special CBI court in Ranchi for fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 37.7 crore from Chaibasa treasury.

Profiles: Delhi gang rape accused

Six people, one of them a juvenile, were put on trial for last December's notorious gang rape and murder of a female student on a bus in the Indian capital, Delhi.

All of them were charged in court with rape, murder, kidnapping and destruction of evidence - all six denied the charges.

Here are brief profiles of the suspects.

Ram Singh

The main suspect, Ram Singh, was found dead in Tihar jail in March. Police said he hanged himself, but defence lawyers and his family alleged he was murdered.

A 33-year-old widower, he lived in a small two-room shanty in the Ravi Dass slum colony.

He was the alleged driver of the bus on which the 23-year-old woman was raped and her male friend assaulted.

He is remembered by his neighbours for being a troublemaker who frequently got involved in drunken brawls.

Like many migrants, his family came to Delhi from their village in Rajasthan more than 20 years ago in search of a better life.

The third of five brothers, Ram Singh was enrolled into the neighbourhood government school but dropped out while still at primary.

He was the first person to be arrested for the 16 December gang rape that shocked India.

A cousin who lives in the same district said he "was fond of music and would often play very loud music at home".

A neighbour said: "Ram Singh would often be found drunk and involved in brawls, though we never thought he could commit a crime as heinous as rape."

His father, Mangelal Singh, said Ram Singh would not have been able to orchestrate a suicide because he only had the effective use of one arm - Ram Singh had damaged his right arm in a driving accident in 2009.

But some of his relatives say he was a strong man who, even after the accident, did not quit driving because a rod had been inserted into the damaged arm.

Mukesh Singh

The younger brother of Ram Singh, Mukesh is in his early 20s.

He lived with his brother in his two-room shanty in the Ravi Dass slum and worked as an occasional driver and cleaner on the bus.

He is charged with raping as well as hitting the woman and her boyfriend with an iron rod - charges that he denies.

It is alleged that he - and not Ram Singh - was driving the bus when they picked up the couple.

In court, Mukesh Singh said that he was driving the bus and the other five raped the woman and assaulted the couple, reports say.

His lawyer has claimed that his client has been abused and tortured inside the jail, charges denied by prison authorities.

Vinay Sharma

A 20-year-old gym assistant and fitness trainer, Vinay Sharma also lived in the Ravi Dass slum, not far from the house of Ram Singh.

Among the accused, he is the only one who has had a school education and speaks English.

Earlier this summer, he sought a month's bail to sit his first-year university examination - a request turned down by the judge who ordered the university officials and jail authorities to make arrangements for him to sit his exams inside prison.

In court, Vinay Sharma has claimed that he was not on the bus when the crime took place and that he had gone to a music function along with co-accused Pawan Gupta.

Akshay Thakur

A 28-year-old helper on the bus, Akshay Thakur is from the eastern Indian state of Bihar.

He was arrested in Bihar on 21 December - five days after the crime.

Along with rape, murder and kidnapping, he is accused of trying to destroy evidence by helping to wash the bus after the incident.

A school dropout, he moved to Delhi last year.

According to reports, he is married and has a young son. The family lives in his village in Bihar.

In court, he has denied being on the bus and said that he left Delhi on 15 December - a day before the crime - and reached his village in Bihar the next day.

Pawan Gupta

A 19-year-old fruit-seller, Pawan Gupta, has claimed in court that he was not on the bus at the time of the crime and had gone to attend a music function with Vinay Sharma.

His father, Heera Lal, who has appeared as a witness in the trial court, said his son was "innocent" and had been "falsely implicated".

He said his son had closed his shop in the afternoon on the day of the incident and left for home.

After consuming alcohol and eating chicken at home, he had gone to a nearby park to attend a music function.

Mr Lal said he went to the park along with his brother-in-law and took him home.

In the early days after his arrest, reports said he had said in court that he had "done a horrible thing... I have done a bad thing and I should be hanged", but his lawyer later denied he had made the statement.

Convicted juvenile

The sixth suspect's name cannot be given for legal reasons. He was 17 at the time of the crime, so was tried as a minor. He has since turned 18.

On 31 August he was found guilty on charges of rape and murder and sentenced to three years in a reform facility, the maximum sentence available to a juvenile.

The eldest of six children, he left his village in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh at the age of 11, and lived his formative years alone, doing menial jobs in Delhi.

His mother told the BBC that she last spoke to him just before he boarded the bus to the city.

She had thought him dead until police came knocking on her door in December and told her he was one of the accused in the gang rape case.

His family is possibly the poorest in the village. The father is mentally disabled and cannot take care of the children.

His mother says she sent him to work in Delhi in the hope that he would earn well and bring the family out of poverty.

He sent the family money for a few years and then disappeared, they say.

His mother insists he was a gentle boy.

"He was a very sensitive child and would be scared to confront anybody in the village. I'm sure he fell into bad company in Delhi and was led into committing this shameful act," she said.

India's Sonia Gandhi discharged from hospital

Sonia Gandhi, head of India's ruling party, has been discharged from the hospital.

NEW DELHI (AP) — A top Indian official says Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the ruling Congress Party and the country's most powerful politician, has been discharged from a hospital after falling ill during a debate in Parliament.

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad says Gandhi underwent a series of medical tests during the five hours she spent in the hospital Monday and was then allowed to return home.

Azaid said Tuesday that Gandhi had been suffering from fever for two days, but still decided to deliver Monday's parliamentary speech. Doctors have advised her to rest for a few days.

Gandhi was born in Italy and rose to power after the killing of her husband, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Budget 2013: Chidambaram focuses on women, youth, poor in budget

Budget 2013: Chidambaram focuses on women, youth, poor in budget

NEW DELHI: To woo "ambitious" women, "impatient" youth and the poor, the Congress-led UPA government Thursday promised them more schemes and programmes as they "represent the vast majority of the people of India".


"...before I close this part of my speech, I wish to draw a picture of three faces that represent the vast majority of the people of India," finance minister P Chidambaram said. 

"The first if the face of the woman. She is the girl child, the young student, the sportswoman, the homemaker, the working women, and the mother. The second is the face of the youth. He is impatient, she is ambitious, and both represent the aspirations of a new generation. The third is the face of the poor who look to the government for a little help, a scholarship or an allowance or a subsidy or a pension. 

He said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government on behalf of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the chairperson of the UPA Sonia Gandhi has made these promises to these three groups in the budget. 

Chidambaram then announced a special Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion/$181 million) corpus named Nirbhaya Fund for the safety of the women. The fund has been announced in memory of the young woman who passed away on Dec 29 last year, two weeks after she had been brutally gang-raped in a moving bus in the Indian capital. 

"We have a collective responsibility to ensure the dignity and safety of women. Recent incidents have cast a long, dark shadow on our liberal and progressive credentials. As more women enter public spaces - for education or work or access to services or leisure - there are more reports of violence against them," Chidambaram said. 

"We stand in solidarity with our girl children and women and we pledge to do everything possible to empower them and to keep them safe and secure. A number of initiatives are under way and many more will be taken by government as well as non-government organizations," he added. 

"These deserve our support. As an earnest of our commitment to these objectives, I propose to set up a fund - let us call it the Nirbhaya Fund - and government will contribute Rs 1,000 crore," he said. 

As the media is not allowed to name a rape victim, the young woman who fought those who assaulted her Dec 16 was referred to as "Nirbhaya" (fearless one) and "Damini" (lightning) by sections of the press. 

The minister said the Women and Child Development along with other ministries will work out the details of the structure, scope and application of the fund. 

He said they want to motivate the youth to voluntarily join skill development programmes. 

The aim is also to reach out to the youth who were in the forefront of anti-rape agitation in the country after the gang-rape of the 23-year-old physiotherapist trainee. Also, 70 per cent of voters in the country are under 35 years. 

"I propose to ask the National Skill Development Corporation to set the curriculum and standards for training in different skills, the candidate will be required to take a test conducted by authorized certification bodies," he said. 

He said upon passing the test, the candidate will be given a certificate as well as a monetary reward of an average of Rs 10,000 per candidate. 

"Skill-trained youth will give an enormous boost to employability and productivity. On the assumption that 10,00,000 youth can be motivated, I propose to set apart Rs. 1,000 crore for this ambitious scheme," Chidambaram added. 

For the poor of the country, the finance ministry said Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme has captured the imagination of the people, especially the poor. 

Described as a "game-changer" by the government, Chidambaram said the Congress-led government "is the government of the people." 

"The money is the money belonging to the people. When we say 'Aapka paisa aapke haath", why should anyone oppose it? We have made a modest and cautious beginning on the 1st of January, 2013. 

"Nearly 11 Lakh beneficiaries have received the benefit directly into their bank accounts," he added. 

He said they "see the smiles on the faces of the dalit girls and the tribal boys who have received their scholarships." 

"We see the happiness on the faces of the pregnant women who are assured that the government cares for the mother and the child before and after child birth," the finance minister said. 

"We are redoubling our efforts to ensure that the digitized beneficiary lists are available; that a bank account is opened for each beneficiary; and that the bank account is seeded with Aadhar in due course," he further said. 

He said the direct cash transfer will be rolled out throughout the country during their term.

Union Budget 2013, Budget news 2013, Economic Survey 

'CPI(M) win in Tripura reflects re-emergence of Left Parties'

'CPI(M) win in Tripura reflects re-emergence of Left Parties'

The ruling Left Front in Tripura today stormed back to power for the fifth consecutive term since 1993 getting a three-fourths majority for the second straight time in the Assembly elections.

Inflicting a crushing blow on Congress and other opponents, the Left Front led by 64-year-old Chief Minister Manik Sarkar bagged 50 seats in a House of 60 increasing its tally by one from 49 in 2008 paving the way for installation of its government for the seventh time since 1967 when the first assembly polls were held. LF bagged 42 seats in 2003.

All ministers of the outgoing ministry except Science and Technology minister Joy Gobinda Debroy of RSP were re-elected.

LF's major partner CPI(M) bagged 49 of the 55 seats it contested with coalition partner CPI, which contested 2 seats, getting one, while the RSP which fought two seats and Forward Bloc in one, drew a blank.

The Congress which contested 48 seats managed to retain 10, while allies INPT which fought for 10 seats and National Conference of Tripura in one were unable to win even one seat. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi during his election campaign had asked voters to throw out the Left Front government from the state.

Manik Sarkar won the Dhanpur constituency defeating Congress candidate Shah Alam by 6,017 votes. Sarkar had won by 4,000 votes the last time.

Finance minister Badal Chowdhury made electoral history by defeating his nearest Congress rival by 12,429 votes in the Hrishyamukh constituency-- the highest victory margin in Tripura Assembly elections.

Other prominent LF winners were Agriculture minister Aghore Debbarma from Asharambari constituency, Industries minister Jitendra Chowdhury from Manu, and Jail minister Manindra Reang from Shantirbazar (ST).

Among Congress winners were Leader of the Opposition Ratan Lal Nath from Mohanpur and TPCC President Sudip Roy Burman from Agartala.

Prominent losers were INPT President Bijoy Hrankhawl from Ambassa and former TPCC president Surajit Dutta from Ramnagar.

CPI(M) State Party Secretary Bijan Dhar said, "It is a victory of the people of the state, and a victory of peace and development and good governance of the sixth Left Front government."

Leader of the Opposition Ratan lal Nath said, "We accept defeat and will review the causes for it."

Benedict promises obedience to successor

Benedict promises obedience to successor:

The pontiff appeared to be trying to defuse concerns about possible conflicts arising from the peculiar situation of having a reigning pope and a retired one.

Pope Benedict XVI promised his “unconditional reverence and obedience” to his successor in his final words to his cardinals on Thursday, a poignant farewell before he becomes the first pope in 600 years to resign.

The pontiff appeared to be trying to defuse concerns about possible conflicts arising from the peculiar situation of having a reigning pope and a retired one.

Delivering an unexpected speech, Benedict also urged the “princes” of the church to set aside their differences as they elect the next pope, urging them to be unified so that the College of Cardinals works “like an orchestra” where “agreement and harmony” can be reached despite diversity.

“Among you is also the future pope, whom I promise my unconditional reverence and obedience,” Benedict said in his final audience.

Benedict’s decision to live at the Vatican in retirement, be called “emeritus pope” and “Your Holiness” and to wear the white cassock associated with the papacy has deepened concerns about the shadow he will cast over the next papacy.

But Benedict has tried to address those worries, saying that once retired he would be “hidden from the world.” In his final speech in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, he said he wasn’t returning to private life, but rather to a new form of service to the church through prayer.

Shortly before 5 p.m., Benedict will leave the palace for the last time as pontiff, head to the helipad at the top of the hill in the Vatican gardens and fly to the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo south of Rome.

There, at 8 p.m. sharp, Benedict will become the first pontiff in 600 years to resign. The doors of the palazzo will shut and the Swiss Guards will go off duty, their service protecting the head of the Catholic Church over for now.

Keywords: Pope's resignation, Pope Benedict XVI

India, Pak agree to de-escalate tension on LoC

India, Pak agree to de-escalate tension on LoC

Pakistan Director General of Military Operations on Wednesday confirmed to his Indian counterpart that orders have been passed onto his troops to observe ceasefire strictly and exercise restraint. 

The DGMOs of India and Pakistan held talks at 10am on Wednesday over LoC issue and they lasted for 10 minutes, reports said.

There has been an understanding between both DGMOs that situation should not be allow to escalate.

Mixed response to Delhi court's verdict

Mixed response to Delhi court's verdict

The conviction of opposition leader and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) supremo Om Parkash Chautala and his legislator son Ajay Singh Chautala by a CBI court in New Delhi in the Junior Basic Trained (JBT) teacher recruitment scam has evoked a mixed response. Senior youth INLD leader Jatinder Balhara and former district president of the party, Dharam Pal Makdoli, said that Congress party had falsely implicated their leaders to settle political scores. 

Balhara alleged that the Congress misused power and influenced the Central Board of Investigation in framing Chautalas. Both the leaders, however, reposed faith in the judiciary and hoped that their leaders would come clean after challenging the verdict in upper courts.

On the other hand, Naveen Jaihind of Aam Aadmi Party hailed the Rohini CBI court's decision. Jaihind said that conviction of Chaultalas would strengthen the public faith in the judiciary.

Casting aspersions on the functioning of the Congress government in Haryana, he said, "recruitments done during the Hooda government were equally biased." While demanding an inquiry into all the recruitments done during the current Congress government by a retired Supreme Court judge, he claimed that a scam of much bigger level would come to fore.

Meanwhile, Haryana CPM state secretariat welcomed the Rohini CBI court's decision in the JBT recruitment scam case.

The party reiterated its demand for an effective and independent lokpal at the Centre and lokayukat in the state.

Notably, Om Prakash Chautala and his legislator son Ajay Chautala, along with 53 others, were convicted on Wednesday by a Delhi court for the illegal recruitment of over 3,000 JBT teachers in the state in year 2000, during the INLD rule. The court has fixed January 22 for pronouncing the quantum of sentence.