Ranchi/Patna: RJD chief and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad, jailed 76 days ago in the fodder scandal, yesterday walked out of Ranchi’s prison on bail and prepared to return to Bihar today.
The joy in Lalu Prasad’s household in Patna was, however, muted because of the death of a relative two days ago. But that did not prevent party supporters from saying that their leader would get a grand reception as he reaches Patna.
“I have faith in the judiciary,” a relieved Lalu Prasad told the media after coming out of the Birsa Munda Central Jail in the Jharkhand capital. He made light of his stay in prison, saying even Krishna was born in captivity.
A former leading light of the Congress-led UPA, Lalu Prasad appealed — obviously with the Bharatiya Janata Party in mind — to political parties to keep “communal forces” at bay. From the jail, the politician went to the Deori temple on the outskirts of Ranchi, about 50km away, and offered prayers to Goddess Durga. This is the same temple where Indian cricket captain M S Dhoni visits. The Supreme Court granted Lalu Prasad bail last week. Along with another former chief minister Jagannath Mishra and others, Lalu Prasad was convicted of illegally withdrawing Rs3.7bn from the Chaibasa treasury in 1994-95 when he was the Bihar chief minister. IANS
