CBI court orders daily hearing of fodder scam cases

Patna, Jan 19 (PTI) A CBI court today ordered hearingon daily basis till framing of charges against former chiefministers Lalu Prasad and Jagannath Mishra and 32 otheraccused in the multi-crore rupees fodder scam.

Designated CBI court judge B K Jain passed the orderwhile hearing the discharge petitions filed by some of theaccused persons.

The judge directed all the accused to ensure theirpersonal appearance in the court on the date of theirdischarge petitions when they would be heard.

Altogether 30 out of the 34 accused persons, includingMishra, JD(U) MP Jagdish Sharma - the then state assembly''spublic accounts committee (PAC) chairman, and former RJD MPR K Rana were present in the court.

Prasad and three other accused persons could notappear as they were indisposed.

RJD supremo''s counsel C.R. Sinha said his client hadsought exemption from personal appearance at today''s hearingdue to illness.

The judge, however, ordered Prasad''s personalappearance before the court once he recovered from illness.

While Prasad''s counsel has already concluded hisarguments on the discharge petition, Mishra may not appearbefore the court once again due to health-related problems onMonday when his discharge petition comes up for hearing.

The fodder case was filed against Prasad, Mishra and32 other accused for hatching a conspiracy for fraudulentwithdrawal of Rs. 47 lakh from Bhagalpur treasury between 1995and 1996 when the former was the Chief Minister of the state.