Source- PTI
Bihar Chief Minister Accuses CBI of Harassment, Opposition Parties Express Solidarity
In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken the step of approaching the Supreme Court with a formal request to nullify the bail granted to the prominent leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The leader is linked to cases pertaining to the alleged fodder scam, a controversy that has captured national attention.
Bihar’s Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, made pointed allegations on Friday, contending that the RJD’s influential figure, Lalu Prasad, is enduring unjust “harassment” at the hands of the CBI. According to Kumar, this treatment is taking place under the influence of the central Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. The Chief Minister’s remarks came as a response to journalists’ inquiries about the CBI’s move to seek the cancellation of Lalu Prasad’s bail in relation to the fodder scam cases.
Kumar, addressing the media, underscored, “Lalu is being subjected to unwarranted distress orchestrated by the CBI, operating under the direction of the BJP government at the Centre. The reality remains that the BJP-led central administration is allegedly exploiting national agencies to target leaders of opposition parties.”
The CBI’s recent maneuver involves formally petitioning the Supreme Court to revoke Lalu Prasad’s bail in connection with the alleged fodder scam cases. The Supreme Court has scheduled a pivotal hearing in response to the CBI’s pleas, and this hearing is scheduled to take place on the 25th of August.
Furthermore, Kumar also addressed the ongoing allegations of discord between the Bihar government and Raj Bhavan concerning the appointment of vice-chancellors for state universities.He used the moment to provide clarity, stating, “There exists no such disagreement. Our collaborative endeavors are firmly focused on enhancing the quality of education in the state.”
The CBI’s involvement in contesting Lalu Prasad Yadav’s bail comes approximately eighteen months after the Jharkhand High Court granted him respite in connection with the contentious fodder scam cases. The CBI formally presented its petition to the apex court on the 18th of August, citing Lalu’s purported failure to complete half of his prison sentence as grounds for bail cancellation. The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing to deliberate on this matter later in the current week.
The lower court had sentenced him to imprisonment ranging from five to seven years in five separate cases related to the scam between 2013 and 2016.The recent action taken by the CBI has left his supporters and various segments of the legal and political circles across the nation puzzled and concerned. According to Dev Prakash, a senior lawyer at the Patna High Court, “The Jharkhand High Court denied Lalu’s bail request on two occasions after the CBI objected, asserting that he had not completed half of his sentence. The court granted him bail only after thoroughly ensuring that Lalu had already served more than half of his sentence in jail.”
The CBI’s motion has evoked swift responses from various quarters.
After conversations with various lawyers practicing in the Jharkhand and Patna high courts, it became apparent that canceling bail would be an unusual action. According to these legal experts, the Supreme Court possesses the authority to revoke an accused individual’s bail if they breach the bail conditions. A lawyer based in Ranchi expressed skepticism about the CBI’s plea in the Supreme Court, suggesting that it might not hold strong ground.
Political Response:
Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu’s son and Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, delivered a defiant message, stating, “We shall not be intimidated… we will fight and emerge triumphant . Additionally, in a display of solidarity, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who leads the Janata Dal (United) party, promptly visited Lalu’s residence in Patna following the CBI’s involvement with the Supreme Court.
