Lalu's DA case takes new turn

23 Mar, 2007

PATNA: Even as the CBI on Thursday challenged the Bihar government's right to appeal against the acquittal of railway minister Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi in a disproportionate assets case, the Patna HC issued notices to the duo asking them to explain why the appeal should not be admitted. Justice R K Datta issued notices to Lalu and Rabri when SC advocate Harish Salve, representing the Bihar government, challenged the verdict of the then Special Judge, CBI, Munilal Paswan. CBI prosecuted Lalu for amassing assets worth Rs 46 lakh, which are disproportionate to his sources of income, during his tenure as CM from 1990 to 1997. Rabri, also a former CM, was made a co-accused in the case for abetting the offence. Challenging the maintainability of the government appeal, additional solicitor general Gopal Subramaniam, representing the CBI, submitted that it was Patna HC, and not state government, which had directed the CBI to probe the fodder scam case and the DA case against Lalu and Rabri was initiated in that context. Subramaniam said after the trial court verdict in the DA case, CBI approached the Centre seeking its permission to file an appeal against the acquittals. However, the Central government refused permission, he said.