Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has moved an application before the court seeking minimum punishment in the fodder scam citing poor health.
Lalu has requested that he be awarded a minimum sentence on health grounds over his diabetes and heart surgery. The RJD leader also said that he was suffering from a bladder infection.
In his application, Lalu said that the Birsa Munda jail did not have clean drinking water and this may affect his kidneys. He also added that the jail did not have any super medical facilities.
The special CBI court in Ranchi will announce the quantum of punishment on Friday, two weeks after it held the former Bihar chief minister guilty in the case.
The court hearing the case had pronounced Lalu guilty of fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh from the Deoghar treasury 21 years ago when he was the chief minister of the state. Six others, including Congress leader Jagannath Mishra, were acquitted in the case, while 15 others were convicted along with Lalu.
The quantum of punishment was to be announced on 3 January, but it was postponed due to a condolence meeting held that day to mourn the death of two lawyers, a CBI advocate had told The Times of India.
The death of advocate Vindheshwari Prasad, also led to changes in the schedule of the court’s proceedings, as an association of advocates abstained from work as a mark of respect.
