Daijiworld Media Network - Patna
Patna, Nov 6: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav appeared before the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM)-I in Siwan on Friday in connection with a 2011 case involving alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
The proceedings lasted around five minutes, during which the court read out the charges against Lalu Prasad and completed the formal process of framing charges. His counsel, Kameshwar Tiwari, also presented arguments before the court.
The court had earlier directed Lalu Prasad to appear in person. However, after he repeatedly failed to comply with the order, a non-bailable warrant was issued against him and proceedings for attachment of his property were initiated.
The attachment proceedings were subsequently stayed after his counsel informed the court that his absence was due to health-related reasons. Lalu Prasad appeared in person on Friday in compliance with the court's directive.
The case dates back to the 2011 Bihar Assembly elections. On October 8, 2011, Lalu Prasad visited the Daraunda Assembly constituency to campaign for RJD candidate Parmeshwar Singh.
He allegedly addressed a public meeting and delivered speeches using loudspeakers without obtaining the mandatory permission, despite prohibitory orders being in force.
Following the incident, the then Circle Officer, Shankar Mahto, lodged an FIR at Daraunda police station against Lalu Prasad and Parmeshwar Singh. The case was registered as Case No. 146/11, following which the court took cognisance of the matter against both accused.
Parmeshwar Singh has since died, while the legal proceedings against Lalu Prasad have continued.
Lalu Prasad arrived in Siwan on Thursday evening and was welcomed by RJD leaders and party workers at several locations along the route. He stayed overnight at a hotel in Pachrukhi.
He was accompanied by several party leaders, including Legislative Council member Vinod Jaiswal and former MLA Bhola Yadav.
Among those who welcomed him were former Assembly Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, Raghunathpur MLA Osama Sahab, former MLA Harishankar Yadav, RJD leader Anwarul Haq, district spokesperson Umesh Kumar, and party leaders Arun Gupta, Harendra Singh Patel, Vikrant Singh, Lalan Yadav and Ravindra Rai.