Patna high court blasts CBI chief

The Patna high court on Friday slammed Central Bureau of Investigation Director R C Sharma, saying the Rs 9.5 billion fodder scam investigation had not made any headway after he took over the job.

''How long will the CBI take to complete the investigation in such a manner?'' Justices S N Jha and S J Mukhopadhyaya asked.

Even in the case, in which then director Joginder Singh had approved prosecution of the accused, no proposal has been submitted to the governor and other sanctioning authorities, despite the assurance given by the local CBI branch.

The court asked the CBI chief to explain why the agency had sought the army's help in arresting then Bihar chief minister Laloo Prasad Yadav without its permission. Sharma has to file his reply within two weeks.

The court also directed CBI Joint Director U N Biswas to file his explanation for the tardy investigation into the scam.

The notices were issued on a petition filed by Samata Party leader Lalan Kumar Singh, and the case has been adjourned till September 12.

The court also issued notices to Bihar Chief Secretary B P Verma and Director General of Police P S K Saxena, asking them to answer the petition filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushil Kumar Modi.

The petition alleges that the law and order situation was crippled on July 30 when Laloo Yadav surrendered before the designated court.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the arrest of former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra in the fodder scam till September 13, when his special leave petition is slated for hearing.

Dr Mishra filed the petition in the apex court on Friday against the Patna high court's refusal to grant him bail in the case. His regular bail application was rejected by the designated CBI court on August 21.

UNI

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Biswas was in a hurry to arrest Laloo: Gupta