Hearing on charge starts in Lalu's case

Patna, Mar 22 (UNI) Hearing today began on the point of charge in a leading case of the multi-crore rupee fodder scam before special CBI judge of Patna Munilal Paswan.

Altogether 40 people, including Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, former Chief Minister Dr Jagannath Mishra, several former Ministers and senior IAS officers of Bihar, are accused in the case.

The case was related to fraudulent withdrawal of more than Rs 46 lakh from Banka and Bhagalpur treasuries in the Animal Husbandary department. The case was registered in 1996.

Discharge petition filed by supplier Sanjay Uppal was heard today.

Discharge petitions of Mr Prasad and Dr Mishra were also pending in the case.

The next hearing in the case would be held on March 27.

UNI XC/DH SJC/SRC RL RS2143