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RJD chief Lalu Prasad was today released from the Birsa Munda Central Jail, two-and-a-half months after he was convicted in a fodder scam case.
The former Bihar Chief Minister was released after he completed the bail formalities in a Special CBI court here as directed by the Supreme Court.
Prasad came out of the main gate and paid obeisance to the statue of a tribal icon at the jail premises.
“I will go around the country to strengthen the secular forces and Narendra Modi, BJP or RSS will not be allowed to fulfil their dreams,” a relieved Prasad told reporters soon after release.
Hundreds of RJD supporters greeted him on his release.
The RJD chief, another former Bihar Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra and 43 others were on September 30 convicted by a special CBI court in the fodder scam case involving fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 37.7 crore from Chaibasa Treasury during the Prasad-led RJD regime.
The RJD chief is scheduled to visit the Deori Temple, about 40 km from here, an RJD spokesman said.
After the Jharkhand High Court had rejected his bail plea, he had moved the apex court and obtained bail last Friday.
Pleading for bail, Prasad, who lost his membership of Parliament after being convicted in the case, had submitted that of the 44 persons convicted along with him, 37 have been granted bail and none of their bail pleas, except his has been rejected.
Worked as gardner in jail
RJD chief Lalu Prasad, who was today released on bail in a fodder scam case worked as gardner in jail to keep fit while refusing to accept wages for his work.
“From the beginning he said he would not take any money. It was Rs 14 per day,” Jail Superintendent Dilip Pradhan said.
The former Bihar chief minister planted several flower plants in the prison garden, the jail official said.
The jail officials, who had earlier thought of giving Prasad the job of a teacher, later decided to employ him as a gardener.
Prasad wanted to work in the garden to keep himself fit, another jail official said.
He is sentenced to five years and fined Rs 25 lakh by a special CBI court in a fodder scam case and was sent to jail on September 20.
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