M A I N   N E W S

Trial of Laloo, Rabri begins

PATNA, July 4 (UNI) — The much-awaited trial against Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Laloo Prasad Yadav accused in the disproportionate assets case began here today with the cross-examination of Finance Manager Manoj Kant Thakur, a witness by CBI Special Judge S.K. Pathak.

During his cross-examination, Mr Thakur informed the court that a loan worth Rs 2 lakh was sanctioned to Mr Yadav on July 31, 1993, the same day he applied for it. Mr Yadav was given Rs 1.87 lakh and Rs 13,000 was paid by Mr Yadav himself. Mr Yadav had submitted the documents on August 3 and the first instalment worth Rs 74,800 was sanctioned on August 4.

The trial of another witness could not take place and was deferred till tomorrow. As per the directives of the Patna High Court the trial has to be completed within six months on the basis of day to day examination of the witnesses.

It is for the first time in the political history of Bihar that a trial has been initiated in any corruption case against a sitting Chief Minister. In the disproportionate assets case, Mr Yadav has been charged with amassing property worth more than Rs 47 lakh during his tenure from 1990-1996 while his wife Rabri Devi has been made co-accused in the first case, trial for which has already begun.

Mr Yadav and Ms Rabri Devi are on bail in the case. Ms Rabri Devi was granted bail on April 5 by the Designated CBI Court while the Patna High Court granted bail to Mr Yadav on May 10.

The CBI submitted its charge sheet in the case on April 5 in the Designated CBI Court which after taking cognisance of the case ordered non-bailable arrest warrants against the couple. Later the same day, the Yadavs’ surrendered before the CBI court which granted bail to Ms Rabri Devi and remanded Mr Yadav to Beur Central Jail in judicial custody.

The Designated CBI Court framed charges against Mr Yadav and Ms Rabri Devi in the case on June 9.

Mr Yadav is on provisional bail in the second case. Earlier, the Supreme Court on January 7, 1999 had granted him a provisional bail in one of the fodder scam cases.

Meanwhile, the couple moved the Patna High Court challenging the charges framed against them in the disproportionate assets case by the designated court which was hearing the fodder scam case.

After spending 36 days in the judicial custody, Mr Yadav was released from the jail on May 11 this year. He had spent 134 days in judicial custody in 1997 while in 1998-1999 he spent 73 days in connection with cases related to the fodder scam.