Patna: A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) judge who convicted many top politicians in a multimillion dollar fodder scam case has applied for arms licence for himself as well his children.
Justice Shivpal Singh, 54, who applied for arms licence had sentenced politicians like Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad, Jagdish Sharma and R.K. Rana, all former parliamentarians, for various jail terms after they were held guilty in a fodder scam case relating fraudulent withdrawal of Rs8.45 million (Dh486,063) from a local treasury.
The sentencing was announced earlier this month.
As per reports, the judge applied for a revolver licences for himself, his son and his daughter in October last year shortly after hearing in the fodder scam case had begun. The judge has sought for these arms licences for “personal defence”. Reports said the judge’s children are in their early twenties and the authorities have now begun mandatory police verifications in connection with the judge’s applications.
“It’s highly unusual for a sitting judge applying for arms licence,” commented a senior official from Ranchi where the judge is currently based hearing fodder scam cases.
Last month, the judge had caused a sensation in the court when he revealed he had got phone calls from the “well wishers” from the RJD president. “I got many references for you but don’t worry I will follow only law,” was show the judge was quoted as saying in the court just before he pronounced judgement in the court.
The RJD, however, has contested the revelations made by the judge saying he must have revealed the names of people seeking favours for Lalu Prasad. “I can say with certainty that no RJD leader would resort to such a step as everyone knows that such desperation can backfire. If somebody called him, why didn’t the judge register a case against them with the police?” was how RJD vice-president Shivanand Tiwari had reacted then.
The judge who sentenced Prasad to three-and-a-half years jail imprisonment had hit the headlines last year when the RJD president had charged him with misbehaving with his defence witness after the trial in the 21-year-old case begun in June. Prasad later moved the High Court seeking transfer of this case to another judge but the court rejected the demand.
