Thaindian News

Ranchi, July 25 (IANS) A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here Friday awarded four years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs.350,000 to Jharkhand transport secretary Sajjal Chakravarty convicted for his role in the multi-million-rupee fodder scam. The special CBI court on July 14 had convicted 64 people, including Chakravarty, in case RC 51 A/96 related to the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs.390 million from the Chaibasa treasury in 1993-1994.

Chakravarty was deputy commissioner of Chaibasa district at that time. Out of total 76 accused in the case, five accused died during trial, four turned approver, two accepted their crime, and one is absconding.

The CBI court has already pronounced sentences against 63 accused in the case. In this case, the court has awarded three to seven years imprisonment to those convicted and slapped a maximum fine of Rs.15 million.

The sentence against Chakravarty was delayed as he was admitted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) after he complained of chest pain. He was brought to the court on a stretcher and was lying down while special CBI judge B.K. Sahay pronounced the sentence.

A total of 63 cases were lodged by the CBI in the fodder scam case. As many as 53 of them were transferred to Jharkhand after the state was carved out from Bihar in November 2000.

Till now special CBI courts have pronounced judgments in 27 cases, convicting 230 people in 27 cases.

Railways Minister Lalu Prasad is an accused in five fodder scam cases which are being tried in various special CBI courts of Ranchi.