Nitish forces CBI to challenge Lalu acquittal

New Delhi, Feb 16 (UNI) The Bihar Government's decision to challenge Railway Minister Lalu Prasad's acquittal in the disproportionate assets (DA) case on its own has forced the Central Bureau of Investigation to save face by approaching the law ministry for permission to seek revision of the designated court's decision.

The CBI faces the embarrassing situation of not moving on a case involving its investigation. According to sources, the CBI weighed its options for nearly two months over whether to challenge the court decision.

The agency felt forced by the Bihar Government's decision to oppose the lower court's verdict. Failure to do so even as Nitish-led Bihar going ahead would give the latter a political issue, the sources said, adding it could lend credence to the allegation that the CBI continued to be politically partisan.

The sources claimed that the CBI had moved the law ministry seeking permission to file an appeal. The designated court in Patna had acquitted Mr Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi on December 18 last year in the case lingering for seven years.

According to the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, which governs CBI, it is mandatory for the agency to seek clearance from the law ministry before going in for an appeal against any judgment.

Mr prasad was accused by CBI of amassing property worth Rs 46 lakh, which was disproportionate to his known sources of income between 1990 and 1997 during his tenure as Bihar Chief Minister.

Rabri Devi was charged with abetting him in the alleged crime.

The case was an offshoot of Bihar's fodder scam. The Railway Minister, however, continues to face six cases in connection with the multi-crore fodder scam.

When the court acquitted Lalu and Rabri, the Bihar government lost little time in saying that the state government would go for an appeal on its own even if the CBI failed to do so.

Bihar advocate-general P K Shahi had reportedly told mediapersons in Patna on January 18 that the verdict in favour of the Lalu-Rabri duo was shocking as there was plenty of evidence against them for a court to convict them.

UNI