Special CBI judge Pravas Kumar Singh delivered the verdict. 475 page verdict was in seven parts. Quantum of punishment to be announced on October 3.
Lalu Prasad Yadav will be taken to jail today. The verdict in the fodder scam to have a bearing on Bihar politics, as the RJD chief stands disqualified as a Lok Sabha member. As per a Supreme Court order that an MP or legislator would stand disqualified immediately if convicted by a court for crimes with punishment of two years or more.
There was heavy security in the Ranchi court ahead of the verdict. RJD supports were seen going to temples and mosques seeking blessing for the RJD chief. Lalu Yadav's son Tejaswi Pratap had earlier said that the verdict won't affect the party and it will continue to function under his guidance.
Prasad and 44 others have been charged with fraudulent withdrawal to the tune of Rs 37.7 crore on fake fodder bills from Chaibasa treasury in the 1990s in a case lodged by CBI. Chaibasa was then part of undivided Bihar.
Accompanied by son Tejaswi Pratap and a host of party colleagues, 65-year-old Prasad on Sunday reached Ranchi to be present in the court.
Besides the RJD supremo, other accused persons include former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra and JD(U) MP Jagdish Sharma.
The government later promulgated an ordinance to undo the apex court order, prompting opposition BJP to allege that it had been done to protect Congress member in Rajya Sabha Rashid Masood, who was recently convicted in a corruption case and also Prasad in case he is indicted in the fodder scam.
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi has, however, slammed the ordinance as "complete nonsense" which should be "torn up and thrown away," leaving its fate uncertain.
The ordinance is likely to be withdrawn after the cabinet meet on October 2.
