Laloo moves bail plea

Both Mishra and Laloo figure as alleged conspirators in Case no RC 20 and have been accused of “masterminding the fraudulent withdrawal from the state treasuries”.

In his application, Laloo claimed that the CBI had falsely implicated him, since none of the 41 First Information Reports (FIRs) filed by the State police and the Vigilance Department — based on which the CBI is probing the fodder scam — mentions his name as an accused. Laloo said he had instructed his officials to file the FIRs and proceed against the officials concerned. He further argued that the confessional statement of Deepesh Chandok was aimed at framing him in the scam. Chandok is an accused, said Laloo, and, therefore, his confession wasn’t tenable before the law.

Meanwhile, the special court today rejected bail petitions of two IAS officers — Mahesh Prasad and K Arumugam — accused in the fodder scam. This has caused concern to both Mishra and Laloo.

Sources say that the two leaders have already contacted senior Supreme Court (SC) lawyers to file an application in the Apex Court if their anticipatory bail applications are rejected.

Later, at a meeting of the Janata Dal Legislature Party (JDLP) at his residence, a rattled Laloo spewed venom on Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and JD working president Sharad Yadav, calling them “parasites” and claiming that he was indispensable to the party.

In a related move, dissident leaders, led by Sharad Yadav, stepped up pressure on Laloo. They met Governor A R Kidwai and are said to have told him not to accept any move by Laloo to dissolve the Assembly.

They also asked him to defer the monsoon session of the House, scheduled to begin on June 23, until the crisis blows over. At the JDLP meeting, Laloo cited LK Advani’s case, saying that when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was in crisis, his entire party “stood behind him like a rock,” while in his case, every one was out to stab him.

Prime Minister I K Gujral has decided to drop Minister of State for Rural Areas and Employment Chandradeo Prasad Verma from his Council of Ministers following Bihar Governor A R Kidwai’s sanction for his prosecution in the fodder scam.

Sources said the Prime Minister decided “in principle” on this course of action, as he does not want to “shield” anyone facing corruption charges. They said the Minister would be dropped only after the CBI “moves in the matter’.