Supreme Court Declines Intervention in HC Bail Order for Lalu Yadav in Fodder Scam Case

New Delhi, July 14: The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to intervene in the bail granted to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in a fodder scam related case, allowing the Jharkhand High Court’s earlier order to remain in force.

A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and P B Varale dismissed the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) challenge against the High Court’s decision to suspend Yadav’s sentence and grant him bail. The apex court, however, directed the High Court to prioritise the hearing of pending appeals connected with the case and attempt to resolve them within six months.

The bench observed that it was not inclined to interfere with the order passed by the High Court, bringing relief to the former Bihar chief minister in the long-running legal matter.

CBI’s Challenge Against High Court Bail Order

The CBI had approached the Supreme Court questioning the Jharkhand High Court’s July 2019 decision, arguing that the suspension of Lalu Yadav’s sentence and subsequent release on bail was legally incorrect.

The investigating agency had claimed that the High Court had wrongly considered the period already spent by Yadav in custody while granting relief and had failed to properly assess the seriousness of the offence.

The case relates to one of the several fodder scam matters involving the alleged illegal withdrawal of government funds from the Deoghar treasury in Bihar, now part of Jharkhand.

Deoghar Treasury Case and Lalu Yadav’s Conviction

Lalu Prasad Yadav was convicted by a special CBI court in the Deoghar treasury case involving the alleged fraudulent withdrawal of around Rs 89 lakh.

Following his conviction, the trial court awarded him a three and a half year prison sentence along with other legal penalties. The case was among multiple fodder scam cases registered during his tenure as Bihar chief minister.

The fodder scam involved allegations of large-scale financial irregularities in the state’s animal husbandry department, where government funds were allegedly withdrawn through forged documents and fraudulent claims over several years.

High Court Granted Bail After Half Sentence Completion

The Jharkhand High Court had earlier suspended Lalu Yadav’s sentence and granted him bail after noting that he had already served more than half of the punishment awarded by the trial court.

The court considered the period of incarceration completed by Yadav and provided relief while the appeal against his conviction remained pending.

The CBI later challenged this decision before the Supreme Court, maintaining that the High Court’s order required reconsideration.

SC Directs Faster Hearing of Pending Appeals

While refusing to disturb the bail order, the Supreme Court emphasised the need for speedy disposal of the pending appeals. The bench asked the Jharkhand High Court to conclude the proceedings at the earliest and preferably within a six-month timeframe.

The direction aims to bring a final resolution to the matter, which has remained under judicial consideration for several years.

Long Legal Battle Over Fodder Scam Cases

The fodder scam has been one of the most prominent corruption cases in Bihar’s political history. Several cases were registered after investigations revealed alleged financial misconduct in the animal husbandry department during the 1990s.

Lalu Prasad Yadav has faced convictions in multiple cases linked to the scam. His legal battles have continued through appeals before higher courts.

The Supreme Court’s latest order does not decide the merits of the pending appeals but only addresses the challenge against the bail granted by the High Court.

Political Impact of the Case

The fodder scam cases have had a significant impact on Bihar’s political landscape. Lalu Yadav, one of the state’s most influential political figures, has repeatedly maintained that the cases against him are politically motivated, while investigative agencies have defended the proceedings as part of efforts to address corruption.

The RJD chief’s supporters welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, viewing it as a major legal relief, while the final outcome of the pending appeals will determine the future course of the case.

With the Supreme Court directing an accelerated hearing, attention will now remain on the proceedings before the Jharkhand High Court and the final adjudication of the long-pending appeals.