Patna: The special CBI Judge completed hearing arguments on the quantum of punishment of 10 convicts including RJD Chief Lalu Yadav on Friday.
According to Lalu Yadav’s lawyer Chitranjan Prasad, “Arguments for six other convicts will be heard on Saturday at around 2 PM after which the court will pronounce the quantum of punishment”.
As it was being speculated, hearing in the case was conducted through a video conferencing. Ahead of the hearing, a team of lawyers representing RJD Chief Lalu Yadav filed a fresh petition in the CBI court seeking leniency in the punishment for him citing health issues.
“We have submitted a petition seeking minimum punishment for Lalu Yadav as he is suffering from various serious ailments. We informed the court about his open heart surgery, lung infection, diabetes and hypertension. He also almost fainted while returning to jail from court the other day” RJD Chief Lalu Yadav’s lawyer Chitranjan Sinha told reporters after the hearing on Friday.
He further said that Lalu Yadav in his plea has also said that “he has no role in the scam directly”
The decision on Lalu Yadav’s sentencing has been deferred for the third time as the court in last two days could hear arguments for only ten of 16 convicts.
The sentencing which was earlier scheduled for Wednesday was deferred for Thursday due to condolence meeting held in the premises of the court to mourn the death of a lawyer.
The bench had again postponed it for Friday.
Lawyers said that “the CBI Judge was hearing the case in alphabetical order and on Friday Lalu Yadav’s name was on top of the list. Lalu Yadav remained silent throughout the court proceedings”.
Lawyers representing CBI had demanded maximum punishment for Lalu Yadav and other fodder scam convicts.
The CBI court, on December 23, had found Lalu Yadav and others guilty of furnishing fake vouchers and bills for withdrawal of '89.27 Lakh from Deoghar treasury for procurement between 1991 and 1994.
Six other accused including former chief minister Jagannath Mishra was acquitted in the case on
December 23. This is the second fodder scam case in which Mr Yadav has been convicted while the trial in four more cases related to other treasuries is pending against him.
