SC disposes off Sadhu Yadav's petition

New Delhi, May 15 (UNI) The Supreme Court today disposed off the petition filed by Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) MP and brother- in-law of Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, Anirudh Prasad alias Sadhu Yadav challenging the Patna High Court order declining to give him anticipatory bail in the over 100-crore flood relief scam case.

A bench, comprising Justices B P Singh and R V Raveendran, however, directed the Patna High Court to pass an appropriate order keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case.

The apex court, however, refused to grant interim protection to Sadhu Yadav.

It may be noted, that the then Patna Distict Magistrate Gautam Goswami, contractor Santosh Kumar Jha and the RJD MP are facing allegations of misappropriating over Rs 100 crores meant for the flood victims.

According to the prosecution case, the money was transferred to fake companies on the basis of bogus vouchers without receiving any relief material from the concerned firms.

The flood relief scam was detected during the regime of Ms Rabri Devi and Sadhu Yadav was suspected to be the main beneficiary of the scandalous loot of public fund.

Gautam Goswami and Santosh Kumar Jha are already in custody.

Sadhu Yadav was granted transit interim bail on May five.

The apex court noted that if Patna High Court refuse to hear the bail application of the petitioner then he shall have no remedy.

When council for the petitioner sought protection for a couple of days for the controversial MP to enable him to move the High Court, the apex court refused to grant any protection.

UNI AKS/SC KD DS1333