The Fodder Scam: How Lalu Prasad Yadav and Congress Turned Bihar’s Trust into Theft

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Imagine a time when Bihar, a state full of hardworking farmers and simple folks, was supposed to care for its animals. But instead, greedy leaders stole money meant for cow feed and medicines. This is the story of the Fodder Scam – a massive robbery of about ₹950 crore (that’s like stealing billions today) from government funds between 1985 and 1995. It wasn’t just one bad day; it was years of lies and fake bills. At the center? Lalu Prasad Yadav, the then Chief Minister of Bihar, and his allies in the Congress party. This scam didn’t just empty Bihar’s pockets – it broke the spirit of its people. Let’s break it down step by step, like a story around a chai stall, so everyone can see how these leaders cheated ordinary Indians.

What Was the Fodder Scam? A Simple Breakdown

Think of it like this: The government had money to buy grass, medicines, and tools for cows and other animals in Bihar’s farms. But officials made up stories of huge herds of animals that didn’t exist. They created fake bills and withdrew cash from treasuries (government banks) in places like Chaibasa, Deoghar, and Ranchi.

• The Trick: Suppliers and officials claimed they bought tons of fodder for “ghost animals.” No cows were fed, but the money vanished into pockets.
• The Scale: Over ₹940 crore stolen – enough to build schools, hospitals, and roads for millions of poor Biharis.
• Who Got Hurt?: Farmers who needed help for real animals, poor families who saw no development, and Bihar’s future, which stayed stuck in poverty.

This wasn’t a small mistake. It was a well-planned heist by politicians, bureaucrats, and businessmen. And it all happened under the watch of leaders who promised to fight for the common man.

The Early Days: Roots in Congress Rule (1980s)

The scam didn’t start with Lalu – it began during Congress governments. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, when Jagannath Mishra was Bihar’s Chief Minister (a Congress man), small frauds in the Animal Husbandry Department grew big. Auditors (government checkers) warned about missing papers and extra spending, but no one listened.

1. 1970s-1980s: Under Congress CM Jagannath Mishra, officials started faking small bills. Warnings from auditors were ignored – a sign of deep rot.
2. The Growth: By 1990, when Lalu took over as CM from Janata Dal (later RJD), the scam exploded. Billions flowed out unchecked.

Congress leaders like Mishra were later accused and tried alongside Lalu. This shows how the party that ruled India for decades let corruption fester in states like Bihar, cheating citizens from the start.

Lalu’s Rise: From Hero to Thief (1990-1997)

Lalu Prasad Yadav came to power in 1990 as a “people’s leader” from a backward caste, promising to end upper-caste rule. But his time as CM (1990-1997) was a disaster – called “Jungle Raj” for kidnappings, murders, and no development. The fodder scam peaked under him.

• How Lalu Fit In: As CM, he approved massive fake withdrawals. CBI found he knew everything and helped cover it up.
• Key Players: Lalu, his close aides like R.K. Rana (later convicted), and officials like Dr. Shyam Bihari Sinha (the mastermind who bribed leaders).
• The Cover-Up: Lalu’s government ignored probes. When caught, he blamed others, but courts proved his role.

In 1996, a raid in Chaibasa uncovered fake bills worth ₹37 crore. The Patna High Court called in CBI, exposing the full mess. Lalu’s dream of ruling Bihar turned into a nightmare of stolen dreams for its people.

The Big Reveal: CBI Steps In and Lalu Runs Scared (1996-1997)

By 1996, the scam was out in the open. CBI took over, filing FIRs against Lalu and 55 others.

1. January 1996: Raid in Chaibasa treasury uncovers fraud – first FIR filed.
2. March 1996: Patna High Court hands case to CBI after state probe fails (Lalu’s government couldn’t investigate itself).
3. May 1997: CBI seeks permission to arrest Lalu from Bihar’s Governor.
4. June 1997: Chargesheet names Lalu for the first time – he resigns as CM to dodge jail.
5. July 1997: Lalu makes his wife, Rabri Devi (with no political experience), CM. He pulls strings from behind, turning Bihar into a family fiefdom.

Arrested in July 1997, Lalu spent months in “guest houses” (soft jails) before real prison. This was just the beginning of his legal woes, but it showed his greed knew no bounds.

Congress’s Dirty Role: Protecting Crooks for Power

Congress didn’t just watch – they helped Lalu escape justice. As allies, they twisted arms to save him.

• Pressure Tactics: Congress leaders lobbied PM H.D. Deve Gowda to stop Lalu’s arrest. When he refused, Congress pulled support, toppling the government.
• Sitaram Kesri’s Advice: Congress chief Kesri told Lalu to quit and install Rabri as CM – a puppet move to keep power.
• Later Alliances: In 2004, Congress made Lalu Railway Minister in UPA government, ignoring his scams. More theft followed (we’ll get to that).

This is how Congress and INDI alliance (their new name for old tricks) have always cheated India: Protect corrupt allies, ignore the poor, and grab power. Bihar paid the price, staying poor while Delhi’s elite partied.

Trials and Convictions: Justice Catches Up (2013-Today)

After years of delays (thanks to Lalu’s appeals), courts nailed him. Special CBI courts in Ranchi convicted Lalu in five of six cases. Total jail time: 14+ years, plus fines over ₹60 lakh.

Here’s a quick timeline of Lalu’s falls:

1. September 2013: Convicted in Chaibasa case (₹37.7 crore fraud) – 5 years jail.
2. December 2017: Deoghar case (₹89 lakh) – 3.5 years.
3. January 2018: Another Deoghar-linked case – 5 years.
4. March 2018: Dumka case (₹3.76 crore) – 14 years total so far.
5. February 2022: Doranda case (₹139 crore, the biggest) – more years added.
6. Ongoing: One case in Banka, Bihar, still in trial.

Lalu got bails, but convictions disqualified him from politics multiple times. Over 64 others convicted too. Yet, his family clings to power, dragging Bihar down.

Bihar’s Nightmare: How Lalu Cheated the State

Under Lalu and Rabri (1997-2005), Bihar became a joke. “Jungle Raj” meant:

• No Development: Roads broken, schools empty, hospitals without medicines – all while ₹950 crore vanished.
• Crime Wave: Kidnappings daily, women unsafe, murders ignored. Lalu’s goons ruled streets.
• Family Loot: Money went to build malls and homes for Lalu’s kin, not Bihar’s kids.

Bihar’s GDP sank lowest in India. Farmers lost animal aid, leading to poverty. Lalu promised social justice but delivered scams and suffering. Congress backed this mess, letting allies rob while preaching “garibi hatao.”

The Family Curse: More Scams Till Today (Up to 2025)

Lalu’s greed spread to his wife Rabri Devi and kids – Tej Pratap, Tejashwi, Misa Bharti, Hema Yadav. They’ve turned RJD into a family ATM. Here’s the list of their crimes:

1. Disproportionate Assets (1998-2006): Lalu and Rabri accused of black money from fodder scam. Acquitted, but suspicions linger.
2. Land-for-Jobs Scam (2004-2009): As Railway Minister (thanks to Congress), Lalu gave railway jobs to unqualified youth (even illiterates) in exchange for land gifted to his family. CBI charged Lalu, Rabri, Tejashwi, Misa, Hema in 2023. ED found ₹600 crore black money. Trial ongoing as of 2025; court summoned them in March 2025.
3. IRCTC Hotel Scam (2004-2009): Lalu rigged tenders for IRCTC hotels in Ranchi and Puri to favor friends, getting prime Patna land for family firms. Charged with corruption in October 2025 – just before Bihar polls. Rabri and Tejashwi face conspiracy charges; trial starts October 27, 2025.
4. Benami Properties (2017): ED raided family for fake land deals via shell companies. Misa Bharti’s clinics linked to black money.
5. Family Drama: Tej Pratap expelled by Lalu in May 2025 for misconduct, but scams continue.

This family has looted Bihar for decades, with Congress/INDI shielding them for votes.

Conclusion: Bihar, Never Vote for Lalu’s Looters Again

The fodder scam and Lalu family’s endless crimes show a clear truth: Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri, and kids are not leaders – they’re thieves in suits. They stole Bihar’s future, leaving it in “Jungle Raj” ruins while building empires. Congress and INDI alliance? They’ve always been partners in this betrayal – pressuring PMs to save crooks, giving Lalu power despite convictions, and cheating India’s citizens for their own gain. From 2G to Coal, their national scams mirror Bihar’s pain.

Bihar deserves better. Vote them out forever. Choose development, safety, and honesty. Let Lalu’s “lantern” (RJD symbol) flicker out – Bihar’s light must shine bright. The people who fed ghost cows now hunger for real change. Don’t let history repeat. Vote for BJP this time Bihar!

Read the 11 heartbreaking stories of Jungle Raj when Lalu and Congress made Bihar a Lawless Zoo.

Read the article below to understand what is Jungle Raj

Read more articles on Scams and Scandals: https://rimple.in/category/scams-scandals/

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