Lalu gets bail from SC, but can’t contest polls

mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, Dec 13: The Supreme court on Friday granted bail to Rashtriya Janata Dal Chief Lalu Prasad on Friday. Lalu was lodged in Birsa Munda jail in Ranchi after he has been convicted in the fodder scam case and sentenced to five years.

The apex court granted Lalu bail on three grounds. First one was the principle of parity as 37 other convicts were granted bail.

Secondly, Lalu has already served one year out of 5 years’ sentence. Thirdly, the conditions imposed on Lalu will be decided by the trial court.

 

 

However, bail does not remove the disqualification from Parliament or contesting elections. Lalu will be able to contest elections for almost six years.

Lalu’s wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi said, "We have full faith in the judiciary. He may not be able to fight elections but will campaign for the party and ensure RJD’s victory. We’ll make it an election issue."

Law Minister Kapil Sibal said, "He is an eminent leader and important at a time when elections are approaching. Since it is the apex court’s decision, we welcome it."

RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha said, "We were very sure that the Supreme Court will listen to us. We have faith that he will get justice. This will boost the morale of the party."

The apex court had on November 29 issued notice to the CBI on Lalu’s petition for bail. The apex court bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi had issued notice after senior counsel Ram Jethmalani told the court that 44 people were convicted in the case, of whom 37 have already been granted bail and bail applications of six others are under consideration.

Jethmalani had told the court that except for Lalu Prasad, no other convict has been refused bail. He had said that another convict who too has been awarded five years imprisonment has been released on bail.

The court inquired what was the position of the Jharkhand High Court in respect of the pendency of the matter. The court was told it was still hearing appeals of 1999-2000.