Truth vs Hype: The Fodder Scam Diaries

The conviction of Lalu Prasad in the fodder scam is being seen as a watershed moment in the politics of Bihar. But the focus on the political aftermath has deflected attention from the specific charges against Lalu. This week, from Ranchi, Patna and New Delhi we retrace the trail of corruption, bringing onto the camera key investigators, activists, accused and politicians, some for the first time. Was Lalu - as the CBI claims - the focal point of a sprawling nexus of corruption, where politicians, officials and contractors colluded to siphon off crores from an impoverished state, or as Lalu claims, was he simply unaware of the systematic loot taking place under his nose?