PATNA: The ghost of Bihar’s multi-crore animal husbandry department scam, often dubbed as the “fodder scam,” has resurfaced ahead of Assembly polls slated later this year after Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary said the government intends to initiate recovery of the “siphoned off” money from the accused.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is among the key accused in the scam cases involving Rs 950 crore. He was Chief Minister of erstwhile undivided Bihar when the irregularities took place. Lalu Prasad was convicted in few cases and sentenced to imprisonment. He is currently on bail on health grounds.
Choudhary, who also holds the finance portfolio, said that the government will initiate the process of confiscating accused’s property as per law.
The court had said the government must recover the “plundered” amount from the accused. “If required, the government will seek the court’s intervention. The confiscated property and the amount recovered from the accused will go into the state exchequer. The court had said the government might initiate the process to confiscate the accused’s property if needed,” Choudhary said.
He clarified that the property was attached following court orders and would be confiscated to recover money. “The process will start soon,” he said.
The fodder scam surfaced in 1996 when the then-district collector of Chaibasa, Amit Khare — he retired as chief secretary of Jharkhand — got an inkling of the “loot” of public money in the animal husbandry department.
Altogether, 66 cases were lodged, and 170 people, including politicians and bureaucrats, were accused. The first FIR for excess money withdrawal from the Chaibasa district (now in Jharkhand) was lodged on March 27, 1996.
Lalu sent to jail in 2013
RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was convicted and sentenced in the fodder scam case in 2013. He is currently on bail. Deputy CM and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary has said the government intends to initiate recovery of the “siphoned off” money from the accused.