Lalu Gets Five Years in Jail, No More MP

Ranchi: Former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad was sentenced to five years in prison and fined 25 lakh for his involvement in the fodder scam that surfaced 17 years ago.

The sentencing took away Lalu Prasad's membership of the Lok Sabha, putting a question mark on the future of one of the country's best known politicians.

"When I have not done any crime, how have I been punished?" a dazed Lalu Prasad asked over video conferencing when he heard the special CBI court pass the sentence. Judge Pravas Kumar Singh retorted: "You can appeal in the higher court."

The court also jailed former Chief Minister Jagannath Mishra and Janata Dal-United leader Jagdish Sharma among the 37 convicts for four years each.

But while Mishra, who was admitted to a hospital after an apparent fall in the bathroom, was fined 2 lakh, Sharma was fined 5 lakh.

The 67-year-old Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) founder leader had hoped for a lighter sentence. His lawyer told the court earlier Thursday that Lalu Prasad had health issues and was a "respectable person".

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