We welcome the legal procedure: RJD

Welcoming the Supreme Court's verdict on reviving criminal conspiracy charges against Rashtriya Janata Dal Chief, Lalu Prasad Yadav in connection with the mid-1905 fodder scam said the legal procedures realted to it would be welcomed by it.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), spokesperson Manoj Jha told ANI, " We always wanted the trial.

Therefore the usage of words like 'setback' and 'jolt' is mere hype created by the media. Our legal battle will help us combat the political battle as well. We respect and welcome the legal proceedings and have full faith in the apex court."

The party said the very fact that the whole trial will be wrapped up within the nine months is indeed a relief, as, it will prove innocence of the so-called accused swiftly.

"Do not forget the same Supreme Court gave us a clean chit in the disproportionate asset (DA) case. Therefore, this time we will be given the clean chit as well thus the short nine month time slot is fair enough," Jha added.

The two-judge bench clearly ruled that the trial has to be completed within nine months.

Fifty three cases were registered for embezzlement of funds worth ?9.4 billion on the pretext of buying fodder for cattle.

The Jharkhand High Court had given relief to the RJD supremo and others by dropping charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and prevention of corruption in the fodder scam in 2014.

The court had dropped the charges on the premise that a person convicted in one case cannot be tried in similar cases of a similar nature.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (C.B.I) , however, had contended that though the cases have arisen from the fodder scam, they are different in nature as different amounts were involved from different treasuries.

The apex court on April 20 had reserved its judgment in the case and asked all parties concerned to give their submissions within a week.

The court also heard the plea filed by RJD Lalu Yadav challenging his jail sentence in connection with the mid-1990s fodder scam case.

The fodder scam relates to fraudulent withdrawal of around Rs. 1,000 crore by the Animal Husbandry department from various districts when Lalu was the Bihar chief minister from 1990 to 1997.

-ANI