Rabri thrilled at Lalu's bail, RJD distributes sweets

Patna, Dec 13: After the Supreme Court Friday granted bail to Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad in a fodder scam case, his wife and former Bihar chief minister

, along with hundreds of

leaders and workers, distributed sweets here.

"I am happy, as I was waiting for this day for over two months. We all welcome the bail given to Laluji by the Suspreme Court, and are happy to greet him here Saturday," Rabri Devi told reporters at her official residence in the Bihar capital.

Rabri Devi said she had full faith in the judiciary, and her faith has been vindicated by the grant of her husband's plea for bail.

"I was hopeful that he would be released, and that has proven right," she said, adding that in due course, Lalu Prasad would also be acquitted.

Describing her sorrow at her husband's absence, Rabri Devi said: "I was sad, feeling lonely without Laluji. But now this phase will be over. Laluji will come out of jail, and start a normal life."

"Laluji is always in my heart. No one can take him away," Rabri Devi said, beaming at reporters.

She said that in view of the Supreme Court verdict, Lalu Prasad would not contest the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Convicted last September by a special CBI court in Ranchi, Jharkhand, in one of the fodder scam cases, Lalu Prasad was sentenced to five years in jail. According to a ruling of the apex court, he is also barred from contesting the polls for a period of six years after his release from jail.

Rabri Devi said that Lalu Prasad would, however, campaign for the Lok Sabha elections 2014.

Two of her sons would visit Ranchi to accompany him back to Patna on his release from jail, Rabri Devi said.

Lalu Prasad, another former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra, and 43 others were convicted in the fodder scam case by the special CBI court in Ranchi. All of them were accused of fraudulent withdrawal of Rs.37.70 crore from the treasury of Chaibasa district in Jharkhand.

IANS