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Kolkata, Oct 26 (IANS) Former CBI Joint Director (East) Upendra Nath Biswas, who played a key role in investigating the fodder scam in Bihar, considers seven of the 75 cases registered in the two-decade-old case as his prized trophies because former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav was convicted in all of them.
“All these seven cases were related to Lalu Prasad Yadav and we won all of them despite his attempt to seek relief till the Supreme Court level,” the 84-year-old retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer told IANS in an exclusive interview.
Lauded by his peers for his impartial investigation and ability to withstand interference during the investigation, Biswas revealed that he bore pressure from his superiors to adopt a soft stance towards Lalu Prasad Yadav.
“I was asked to do something which would result in Lalu Prasad Yadav emerging clean,” said the former CBI supercop, who is often described as the man who single-handedly forced Lalu Prasad Yadav to step down as chief minister.
Biswas said that, initially, the Bihar government wanted to investigate the scam on its own – an attempt that was thwarted by the High Court, which said you are a party, so you cannot investigate on your own.
Recalling the days of the high-profile investigation, Biswas said, “The accused involved in the misappropriation worked at lower levels, but their connections took us to the chief minister.”
“Those who committed the crime gave money to people at upper levels and later issued orders. This was a big conspiracy, which shows complete disregard for law and administration,” Biswas said.
The fodder scam came to light during 1990–91 and 1995–96. As part of this, officials of the erstwhile Bihar Animal Husbandry Department, in connivance with unscrupulous suppliers and others, siphoned off and siphoned off hundreds of crores of rupees in the name of making payments to suppliers who had submitted fake/fake bills misrepresenting the supply of feed, fodder and veterinary drugs.
It was further alleged that the amount withdrawn was ultimately misused. During the investigation, the roles of bureaucrats, politicians including the then Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo and Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and others came to light.
–IANS
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