New Delhi:
Lalu Yadav and his wife, Rabri, have scored big in the Supreme Court which has ruled that a case of large-scale corruption against them stands closed.
Speaking to NDTV after the verdict, Lalu said, "I have full faith in the judiciary."
Both Lalu and Rabri Devi have served as chief ministers of Bihar. They were accused of accumulating wealth beyond their declared sources of income. The CBI investigated the case against them, but failed, in 2006, to prove them guilty. So a special CBI court acquitted Lalu and his wife.
The CBI did not challenge the acquittal in the Patna High Court. So the Bihar state government appealed against the CBI court's verdict. The Patna High Court said the state government was entitled to do this.
Now, however, the Supreme Court has ruled it's not upto the government to challenge the acquittal. Lalu's lawyer, Ram Jethmalani, had argued that the CBI is appointed to investigate cases at the discretion of the central government. Therefore, he said, state governments cannot play a role in cases handled by the CBI; otherwise, it would mean that the state governments have some sort of authority over the CBI.
The Bihar government's lawyers, on the other hand, said that because the alleged crimes were committed in the state, the Bihar government has jurisdiction over the cases.
Speaking to NDTV after the verdict, Lalu said, "I have full faith in the judiciary."
Both Lalu and Rabri Devi have served as chief ministers of Bihar. They were accused of accumulating wealth beyond their declared sources of income. The CBI investigated the case against them, but failed, in 2006, to prove them guilty. So a special CBI court acquitted Lalu and his wife.
The CBI did not challenge the acquittal in the Patna High Court. So the Bihar state government appealed against the CBI court's verdict. The Patna High Court said the state government was entitled to do this.
Now, however, the Supreme Court has ruled it's not upto the government to challenge the acquittal. Lalu's lawyer, Ram Jethmalani, had argued that the CBI is appointed to investigate cases at the discretion of the central government. Therefore, he said, state governments cannot play a role in cases handled by the CBI; otherwise, it would mean that the state governments have some sort of authority over the CBI.
The Bihar government's lawyers, on the other hand, said that because the alleged crimes were committed in the state, the Bihar government has jurisdiction over the cases.
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