In yet another significant verdict by an Indian Court, a special CBI Court based in Ranchi awarded three-and-a-half years` imprisonment to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president and former Bihar chief-minister Laloo Prasad Yadav in the second fodder scam.

Justice Shivpal Singh of the CBI Court pronounced the verdict in the scam involving Laloo, who was once the former Union Railway Minister, besides imposing a penalty of Rs.10 lakhs under IPC`s section relating to prevention of corruption. It was also mentioned in the verdict that failure to pay the fine would make the guilty spend six more months in prison.

Laloo was convicted on charges of cheating and for criminal conspiracy. Interestingly enough, RJD leader and Laloo`s son Tejashwi Yadav said that his family believed in the judiciary and said that the family would react to the verdict only after hearing it. “If need be, we may move the High Court of Bihar for further action,” he said.

The weekend verdict comes today after it was postponed thrice in this week. During the delivery of the verdict, Justice Singh sarcastically said that he preferred an open jail for the convicts who possessed enough experience in cow farming`. Laloo would soon be filing an appeal with the High Court o Bihar against the CBI Court`s verdict.

Six other convicts were also awarded three-and-a-half-year prison term while Jagdish Sharma, another accused, got Rs.10 lakhs penalty and a 7-year long prison term.