For the first time, a serving IAS officer convicted in fodder scam

Ranchi, July 14 : Jharkhand Transport Secretary Sajal Chakraborty today became the first serving IAS officer to be convicted in the fodder scam by a special CBI Court.

Chakraborty (48) was among the 64 accused found guilty by the court here for signing forged bills in a fodder case relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 39 crore from Chaibasa treasury in the early 1990s.

The CBI court sentenced 10 women (all fodder suppliers) to three years jail term while the quantum of sentence against Chakraborty and 53 others will be pronounced tomorrow.

The IAS officer, who was present in the courtroom, was the Deputy Commissioner of Chaibasa when the scam was unearthed.

All the 10 women convicts, who secured periodic bail from the court, were slapped a fine ranging between rupees one lakh and 25 lakh.

A former Animal Husbandry Director, Ram Raj Ram and former Additional Director K M Prasad were also among the convicts.

Three convicts among the 64 are still absconding.

This is the 28th of the 53 fodder cases resulting in the conviction of 274 people so far.

ANI