Lalu: Corruption-tainted Indian ex-minister jailed

NEW DELHI: India’s former minister Lalu Prasad Yadav was imprisoned in Ranchi on Monday after he was found guilty of embezzling tens of millions when he was chief minister of the Bihar state.
The conviction means he stands to be disqualified as an MP, according to a recent Supreme Court judgment, NDTV reported.
The 66-year-old, who has served as railways minister, will be sentenced on Thursday in the case that has stretched over 17 years. He faces between four and seven years in prison.
Lalu was in the packed court-room when he was declared guilty along with Congressman Jagannath Mishra, who has also served as chief minister of Bihar, and two leaders of the ruling Janata Dal (United) or JD(U). Mishra, just hours, later was admitted to a hospital in Ranchi.
The case is based on the misuse of Rs 370 million of public money, part of a larger scam that saw Rs 9.5 billion being used to pay fictitious bills for medicines and fodder for cattle in Bihar.
The CBI has alleged that as chief minister, Lalu accepted kickbacks, was aware of the financial malevolence of officials who he “constantly shielded and patronized.”
Lalu did not speak to the media. His son Tejaswi vowed to fight today's verdict in a higher court and in “the court of the people.”
Lalu had to resign as Bihar chief minister in 1997 after being charged in the scam; he installed his wife, Rabri Devi, in office. In the 2005 election, he lost Bihar to Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal (United) who has been chief minister ever since.