New Delhi:
CBI special court in Ranchi on Friday deferred the quantum of sentence for Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Yadav in a multi-lakh-rupee fodder scam.
The special CBI judge Shivpal Singh will announce the quantum of sentence via video conferencing on Saturday.
The RJD supremo's lawyer Chittaranjan Sinha said, "Sentence will be announced at 2 pm, tomorrow, via video conferencing."
Earlier in the day, Lalu's advocate filed a plea before the Ranchi Special CBI Court demanding minimum punishment to the RJD Chief in the Bihar fodder scam.
In the plea filed hours before special court’s pronouncement of quantum of sentence, Lalu’s advocate cited poor medical condition of the RJD chief convicted in the fodder scam case on December 23.
“I have no role in this scam directly; consider minimum punishment keeping in view my age and health grounds,” Lalu Yadav's fresh plea said.
Earlier on Thursday, Lalu Prasad’s lawyer had said that “Lalu is 70-years-old and suffering from many diseases. We will seek minimum punishment for him.”
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The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and 15 others were convicted on December 23 in a case related to the multi-million-rupee fodder scam by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court.
The CBI special court in Ranchi was expected to award the quantum of punishment for RJD chief Lalu Prasad and 15 others on January 3, but due to the sudden demise of an advocate, the announcement was deferred to January 4.
However, the court could not pronounce the quantum of punishment on January 4 as well and the sentencing deferred for one more day.
Lalu Prasad can be awarded three to seven years’ punishment. If he gets three years’ punishment, he would get bail soon after sentencing.
