RTIwala Explains Fodder Scam: In this exhaustive article, we take you through all the facts and updates on the fodder scam or rather theft from the Government funds by the government officials. Let’s take a look at the resources held responsible, the misappropriation of funds and the officials involved, all in one go out here.
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How the Fodder Scam originated and the accused involved?
The Fodder scam initially originated in the year 1996 following the fraudulent case of embezzlement of government funds in 1985. The scam actually got its name from the fact that it was rooted in the Animal and Husbandry department of Bihar Government. There were fraudulent transactions made in the name of procuring cattle feed over a period of 20 years, under successive regimes.
In 1996 state finance secretary V.S. Dubey took stern measures against it and ordered inspections across all districts. A raid was done on the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) at Chaibasa revealed illegal withdrawals from the state treasury. Such raids though got increased in number but were away from the media glare, which went on to be known as ‘Fodder Scam’.
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In the early ’90s, the raids revealed around a huge number of AHD officers and government officials involved in the whole of scenario. They had gained a worth of Rs.25 crore but before any action could be taken off the IT officer was transferred. And this process had been in continuation for so many years, authentic officials were transferred while unauthentic ones ruled.
How Lalu Yadav got involved in the Fodder Scam?
As the issue started gathering heat, CBI put on their shoes and began their inquiry. BJP state unit chief Sushil Modi filed a PIL in the Patna High Court in 1997 demanding a CBI inquiry in the case. The CBI filed a submission to the High Court that Bihar officials were blocking access to the government documents unauthentically. As the investigation proceeded, CBI unraveled linkages to the serving chief minister of Bihar, Laloo Prasad Yadav. In 1997, May 10, an official request was raised to prosecute Laloo Yadav since then this story remains an ongoing one.
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An Income Tax investigation also blamed Lalu Prasad Yadav for the same and hence he was found involved in several other charges. The Supreme Court had ordered separate trials against him for all the charges related to fodder scam worth of Rs.1000 crore. The case has been running through different regimes over two decades and now ended up convicting Laloo Yadav along with several other big names.
Is this the end of a Lalu Yadav era?
Following the CBI conviction relating to the multi-million-rupee fodder scam, Yadav and other convicts were immediately taken into police custody. Currently, Lalu Prasad Yadav is under to Birsa Munda Central Jail. On this note, the RJD (Rashtriya Janta Dal) workers showed their annoyance when Yadav was being taken to jail. The quantum of sentence is yet to be announced for Laloo Yadav and others in a fodder scam case. Considering his age-factor and various health issues his punishment would be considered for a minimum of an amount.
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With this, we may only think that though there are leaders and politicians who had been punished in such government thefts, they still possess their power. The same punishment would be extensive for a common man but it is mere if you’re a known face.
Truly, the game of politics is a game of power!!
