The court has fixed Monday, February 22 as the date for framing of charges against Lalu Prasad, Jagannath Mishra and 38 others including Janata Dal (United) legislator Jagdish Sharma (both former chairmen of Public Accounts Committee of Bihar Assembly), Rashtriya Janata Dal members R K Rana and Vidya Sagar Nishad. Nishad is a former minister for Animal Husbandry.
The court officials said the designated CBI judge Munni Lal Paswan fixed the date after hearing the counsel for Prasad and others and senior public prosecutor for the investigating agency, L R Ansari.
Paswan directed all the accused to be present in the court on that day to facilitate framing of the charges.
The case relates to fraudulent withdrawals of over Rs 9 lakh from Banka and Bhagalpur treasuries by the state animal husbandry department officials by submitting forged and fabricated bills when Prasad was the Chief Minister in 90s.
