By IANS,
Ranchi : A special court in Jharkhand Friday convicted 43 accused in the multi million fodder scam case, sentencing 14 of them to three years’ imprisonment each. The rest of the sentences will be announced Monday
A.H. Ansari, judge of the special Central Bureau of investigation (CBI) court, convicted 43 people accused in the case number RC/57 A related to the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs.9.90 crore (Rs.99 million) from Gumla treasury way back in the early 1990s.
Fines ranging from Rs.15,000 to Rs.500,000 were also slapped on the 14 sentenced Friday.
There were a total 55 accused in the case and the chargesheet was filed in 1999. Eight of the accused died during the trial, one turned approver, one pleaded guilty and two are absconding. The special CBI court convicted all the 43 accused in the case.
Till now, CBI courts have passed judgment in nearly 30 cases of the scam. Railways Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad and former chief minister of Bihar Jaganath Mishra are also accused in five of the fodder scam cases, trials of which are underway in Ranchi CBI courts.