HC suspends jail term, Lalu to walk free

HC suspends jail term, Lalu to walk free

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ranchi/Patna:  18.04.2021

RJD president Lalu Prasad is set to walk out of jail after the Jharkhand high court suspended the remaining duration of his prison sentence in the Dumka treasury fodder scam case, RC 38A/96, on Saturday. Lalu, at present undergoing treatment at AIIMS in New Delhi under custody, is likely to be released next week. Lalu’s counsel Kapil Sibal on Saturday told the court that the RJD chief had completed more than half of his term in the Dumka treasury case and was entitled to be released.

Concerned about dad Lalu’s health: Tejashwi

Lalu’s family and party supporters were elated. While Lalu’s wife, former CM Rabri Devi, and their eldest daughter, Rajya Sabha member Misa Bharti, arrived at AIIMS Delhi, his sons and other daughters expressed happiness on social media.

Lalu’s younger son, leader of the opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, thanked the high court. “But we are more concerned about his health now,” he said. Tejashwi said a decision on Lalu’s coming to Patna would depend on the advice of doctors attending to him at AIIMS Delhi. “He is suffering from different ailments, including of the kidney and heart. We don’t want to take any chances,” he said.

Lalu’s elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, tweeted, “The messiah of the poor and downtrodden is now back. Tell those who have been doing injustice to them that our leader is coming back.”

One of Lalu’s daughters, Rohini Acharya, said she had got his “Eidi (Eid blessings)”, for which she has been observing Ramzan. Rohini also said she was observing “Chaitra Navaratra” rituals for his father’s release.

RJD workers and supporters celebrated the news by bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets. Though the party appealed to its supporters not to celebrate the occasion in a big way, and to follow Covid-19 guidelines, a few supporters went to Rabri Devi’s 10, Circular Road residence in Patna to celebrate.

Earlier, RJD national vice-president Shivanand Tiwari said, “The whole of Bihar welcomes his (Lalu’s) bail. It has been a long wait for him, his family members and party workers.”

Former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM(S), part of the ruling NDA in the state, also welcomed news of Lalu’s bail. HAM(S) spokesperson Danish Rizwan said, “Our leader Jitan Ram Manjhi always expressed his concern about Lalu-ji’s ill health. We hope now Lalu-ji will be able to take care of himself in a better way. We are pleased with his bail.”

CELEBRATIONS GALORE: RJD supporters outside party office in Patna on Saturday