Six years RI to 15 accused in Fodder Scam

New Delhi, Dec 22 (UNI) A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court at Ranchi, Bihar today convicted and sentenced 15 accused in the fodder scam six year rigorous imprisonment each, besides fines ranging from Rs 40000 to Rs 50000.

Special CBI judge A K Choudhary convicted 15 of fraudulently withdrawing an amount of Rs 54.80 lakh from Hazaribagh treasury through fake bills for purported supply of veterinary medicines to the Animal Husbandry Department during 1993-94.

The convicts are -- Dr Gopal Baitha (DAHO), Dr Pashupati Nath Singh, Braj Bhushan Prasad, T M prasad, Sushil Kumar, Sunil Sinha, Dr K N Singh, Dr K K Sahay, Ms Saraswati Chandra, Mahendra Prasad, Gopal Ram, N K Prasad, Arun Kumar Sinha, K M Prasad and Kedar Nath Ram.

The chargesheet had been filed against 19 accused.

While two of them -- Shyam Bihari Sinha and Diwakar Sharma -- died during the long drawn trial, R K Das turned approver and another P K Jaiswal pleaded guilty.

UNI SSS YA DB1957