Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad (File pic)
Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran has disagreed with CBI Director Ranjit Sinha over dropping of pending fodder scam cases against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, saying the matter can be decided only by judicial forum.
The Solicitor General's opinion was sought after the Director of Prosecution (DOP), OP Verma, disagreed with Mr Sinha who has suggested that three pending cases against the RJD chief be dropped since he has already been convicted in a similar case.
In his response to the Law Ministry, Mr Parasaran has said that it is "not advisable for law officers to dwell into jurisdiction of courts."
"In my view, this matter requires to be only decided before a judicial forum where all the views can be trashed out and the court can give its judgment after analysing all aspects in the matter. It is not advisable for law officers to dwell into that jurisdiction which courts alone are appropriately empowered with," he said.
Mr Prasad has been convicted and sentenced to five years in jail in one of the fodder scam cases against him. He is currently out on bail. According to Mr Sinha, he can't be tried again for the same offence.
"I am of the view that a person may not be tried for the same offences in another case for which he has already been convicted when the evidence is the same," Mr Sinha had said last month.
The cases in which Mr Sinha recommended that charges against Mr Prasad be dropped are connected with the alleged illegal withdrawal of Rs 3.13 crore from Dumka Treasury during the period December,1995 to January, 1996, Rs 84.53 lakh from Deoghar Treasury between 1990 and 1994 and Rs 33.13 crore from Chaibasa Treasury during December 1992 to 1993.