Jharkhand HC seeks report on whose order Lalu was shifted to bungalow from paying ward

Ranchi (IANS): Jharkhand High Court on Friday sought a report from the state govt on whose order RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav was shifted from paying ward of Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) to director bungalow.

The court was hearing violation of the jail manual and giving special status to Lalu Yadav in jail. The court wanted to know from the Inspector general (IG)of Jharkhand Jail and jail superintendent of Birsa Munda central from whose order Lalu Yadav was shifted to RIMS director bungalow from paying ward and by whose order he was shifted back to paying ward. 

The court has sought a report by December 18. The court also wanted to know the process of appointing Sewadars in the RIMS director bungalow when Lalu Yadav was shifted. 

The state govt informed the state court SOP was formulated for meeting prisoners in jail. The court also sought three months' details of people who met Lalu Yadav during his stay in bungalow. 

Lalu Yadav had landed in controversy when a telephone call was released by Bihar BJP leader Sushil Modi. Sushil Modi had released an audiotape in which Lalu Yadav allegedly called a Bihar BJP legislator Lalan Paswan and asked him to remain absent during  Bihar speaker election voting. 

Lalu Yadav serving sentence after convicted in four fodder scam was staying in the paying ward of RIMS for treatment. He has been awarded a jail term of up to 14 years. He was shifted to the RIMS director bungalow on September 5 due to Coronavirus fear. He was shifted back to the paying ward on November 26 after an audio of a telephone talk with BJP legislator went viral. 

It was also alleged that one of the Sewadar appointed was RJD leader who was using his mobile phone for making phone call for Lalu Yadav.