SC stays arrest of treasury officer involved in Bihar fodder scam

New Delhi, May 19 (UNI) The Supreme Court today stayed the arrest of a treasury officer of Bihar convicted for his involvement in the multi-crore fodder scam, till further orders.

The petitioner Dayanand Prasad Kashyap was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment (RI), along with a fine of twenty- five thousand by the Special Judge, Ranchi for cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy for defrauding the state of Rs 1.82 crores.

Other conspirators were also sentenced to two years RI with a fine of Rs 20,000 each for releasing money to private suppliers on the basis of bogus and forged bills.

The petitioner has challenged the Jharkhand High Court order dated May 9, 2006 directing the petitioner to surrendrer forthwith with the liberty to renew his application for suspension of sentence after he has served out half the sentence.

In all, 45 accused were arrested by the CBI including the pettitioner, and the proprietor of Baishnav Enterprises, Ranchi.

The firm was given Rs five lakh on the basis of bogus bill without supplying goods.

A bench comprising Mr Justice B P Singh and Mr Justice R V Raveendran today also issued notices to the Jharkhand government and CBI on the petition.

The bills, amounting to Rs 1.82 crore, were paid for purchasing fodder, machine, equipments, bulls, vehicles and other such items.

UNI AKS/SC SI ND1612