Bihar fodder scam: Important files go missing, FIR lodged

An FIR has been lodged in connection with the theft of about 500 files of Bihar’s animal husbandry directorate which are supposedly related to the multi-crore fodder scam.

“An unnamed FIR has been lodged for theft of 500 files of the Animal Husbandry Directorate from its office,” a police official said today. The FIR has been lodged by Section Officer Satyendra Kumar at a directive of Animal Husbandry Director on May 16 last, he said. It would be known during the course of investigation as to which files were stolen, he said.

Unearthed in 1996, the scam pertains to syphoning of funds by non-existent companies in the name of supplying fodder. RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav, at present out on bail granted by the Supreme Court, was convicted in the case in 2014. Prasad, also an accused in another related case, is the chief of RJD, an ally of the ruling government in the state.

The scam pertains to fraudulent withdrawal of public money worth about Rs 950 crore from the treasuries of undivided Bihar under the head of the animal husbandry department (AHD) in 1990s.