Dowry came to the rescue of Lalu in corruption case

Patna: Accepting or giving dowry is a "serious legal offence" under the Indian Penal Code. But ironically, it was the dowry given to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad during his marriage that eventually saw him acquitted in the disproportionate assets case.

The special designated CBI court acquitted both Lalu and his wife Rabri Devi last Monday of corruption charges filed by the CBI seven years ago.

And, what those 'precious' dowry gifts were? A pair of cows with two calves and some five acres of land!

Lalu proved in the court that it was with the help of just a pair of milching cows that his family started a dairy business which is their main source of income - in addition to farming.

The CBI had accused Lalu of allegedly possessing Rs 4.6 million (Dh372,452) disproportionate to his known sources of income between 1990 and 1997 when he was Bihar chief minister. His wife was accused of abetting him in the alleged offence.

The defence put this logic before the court stating that Rabri was given two cows and two calves as dowry "gifts" by her parents in May 1974.

The encouraging breeding rate though saw their numbers go up, finally giving them the idea to run a dairy business.

Now, Lalu claims, they have no less than 100 heads of cattle in their farm. The defence also proved that Rabri's uncle Prasadi Chaudhary had "gifted" her 5-6 acres of land that came as yet another source of their income.

Barely a fortnight ago, the embattled Rashtriya Janata Dal chief had been presented a 'Nandi' bull by Purandareshwari, daughter of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N.T. Rama Rao during his recent trip to the southern state.

Revered

As of April 2005, as per the affidavits by Lalu before the Election Commission, the family owned 50 cows and 31 calves.

"Cows are revered as mother in the Hindu tradition. Moreover whenever I and my family faced the troubled times, they bailed us out. They have been our shield, protecting us from all difficulties," remarked an emotional Rabri.