Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav will move the High Court of Jharkhand for bail in the Deoghar treasury case, in which he is sentenced to 3.5 years' rigorous imprisonment by a special CBI court on Saturday, most likely by the end of the week.
However, his troubles are unlikely to end with bail (if granted) in this particular case, as he is accused in four more fodder scam cases, the hearing for two of which is almost in its final stages and the verdict is expected by month end.
These four cases pertain to fraudulent withdrawals from the treasuries of Dumka, Chaibasa, Doranda — all three in Jharkhand and Bhagalpur in Bihar. It may be mentioned that Lalu was accused in a total of six cases of the Rs 1,000 crore fodder scam but has already been convicted by the lower court in two cases — Chaibasa treasury withdrawal in 2013 and Deoghar treasury withdrawal on January 6.
A Ranchi-based advocate said the hearing in the cases of the Dumka and Chaibasa treasuries were almost in their final stages and the verdict was likely by January end. Even the Doranda case hearing has picked up some speed now and is halfway through, he added. Meanwhile, a production warrant has been issued for Lalu for hearing in the Bhagalpur treasury case in Patna on January 10.
This means Lalu's jail and bail tryst is likely to continue for the next few months. Especially in light of the Supreme Court's May 2017 order to the lower courts to conclude Lalu's fodder scam cases by February this year.
The fodder scam, though, is just one part of the story. The problems of RJD's first family is likely to escalate with investigation progressing in the money laundering and land-for-hotel tender scam cases, in which Lalu, his wife and former Bihar CM Rabri Devi, their son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and daughter Misa Bharti figure among the accused.
The central investigation agencies have already filed chargesheet in the money laundering case against Misa and her husband Shailesh while investigation in underway in the hotel allotment scandal in which CBI had lodged an FIR in July last year. The Income-Tax department and Enforcement Directorate are also interrogating the family members in cases pertaining to alleged Benami properties. Even properties in the names of Lalu's daughters Chanda and Ragini, are also in the purview of investigation.
While Lalu's sons may be putting up a brave face, some senior RJD leaders apprehend the future of the party in case more Yadav clan members land behind the bars as the party has largely remained in the hands of the family since its inception.
