Patna
Jailed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad loves politics. So much so that he had constantly issued political statements whenever he was brought to the court for his appearance in the fodder scam cases. But inside the high walls of the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi where he’s been confined since December end, he’s been allotted a different job.
The RJD chief who has been convicted in two fodder scam cases has been at the gardening job since January 9 — 18 days after he was sent to jail on December 23 last year. Officials said he has been allotted this job keeping in view his advanced age and health complications.
According to jail authorities, the RJD President wakes up early in the morning every day and devotes three- to five hours on gardening which include planting saplings and watering young plants. “He gets working after scanning newspapers and having breakfast,” an official told the local media on Friday.
As per reports, the RJD chief has even arranged the seeds of the plants which are to be grown in summer and is devoted to gardening as he does not have to appear in court. That is ensured through video-conferencing in jail.
As per the report, he is being paid a daily wage of Rs93 (Dh5.25) for his gardening job. The wages will be paid to the RJD chief the day he is released from jail, officials said.
Prasad is at present serving a jail sentence in two fodder scam cases related to the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs336.75 million and Rs8.45 million from local treasuries in Jharkhand, when it was a part of united Bihar. The judgment in the fourth case relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 37.60 million is scheduled for Saturday.
