Fodder Scam

Fodder Scam is a scam related to the Animal Husbandry Department of the government of Bihar in which irregularities of nearly Rs 950 crores (US$ 264 million) were detected.

Investigation

Lalu had ordered probe into these massive irregularities in accounts by constituting a committee^{[citation needed]}. However motives of these people were questioned by a Public Interest Litigation and Supreme Court of India handed over the case to CBI. Many people who were in this probe committee themselves became accused. Charges were filed against Yadav too and later on Mishra was also framed. Developments of the case has been the deciding factors in political situations both at state and national level.

The first report on Lalu Prasad Yadav and J.N.Mishra involved in Fodder Scam was Given in 1992 by Mr. Bidhu Bhushan Dvivedi, then Police Inspector in Vigiliance department, Bihar to G.Narayan then, Director General Vigilance, Bihar. Mr Dvivedi is witness to many cases of CBI in fodder scam.(Refer:-Inside CBI-Joginder Singh & Chara Chor and Khazana Chor). ^[1]

Following the series of events and pressure from the ruling party in Bihar-Lalu's government Mr. Dvivedi was then relieved of his duty in Vigiliance Dept. and was given a shunt posting in CID (Foods) and was later suspended for one and half years after which he was released through H'onble Ranchi High Court Judgement.(Cite:

Animal Husbandary Scam popularly known as "Chara Ghotala" is one of the biggest scams in India valuing almost more than INR. Rs.1000 Cr.

Accused

There are a total of 76 accused, of whom three have died and three turned state witnesses.

Some of the people against whom charges were framed include:

• Former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra
• Former MP Rajo Singh
• Former Bihar animal husbandry minister Vidyasagar Nishad
• Former central minister Chandradeo Prasad Verma
• Four bureaucrats of the Indian Administrative Service, veterinary doctors and other government officials.

It was only after Special Investigation Team(SIT) under U N Biswas was constituted that investigation started at a brisk rate. Soon many heads started rolling and Yadav and members of his party had to lose their ministerial berths both at centre and state facing corruption charges.

There are 20 truckloads of documents in the case.^[2]