Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) on Tuesday referred fodder scam convict and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad to AIIMS in Delhi citing concerns over his falling health.
A decision to this effect was taken around noon after a meeting of a medical board. RIMS director Kameshwar Prasad after the meeting informed reporters that Lalu’s health condition has complicated due to kidney malfunction coupled with several other age old ailments.
“Considering his current condition, RIMS medical board has referred him to higher centre for better treatment. We have formally sent our communiqué to the jail authorities. It is now on them to decide on the date and time of shifting him from here,” he said.
Another doctor, who is part of the medical board, added that Lalu’s cretanine level has shot up since yesterday. “His cretanine level has not increased to 4.5 from 3.5 couple of days back which is a reason of concern and needs to control immediately to avoid kidney failure. His kidneys too are barely functioning about 15-20 percent,” he said.
While Birsa Munda Central Jail superintendent Hamid Akthar didn’t receive calls but jail sources said that he is likely to be sent to Delhi by Tuesday evening or Wednesday soon after government (home department) formally gives its nod.
Lalu, who was on bail since about a year, was jailed again in February this year following his conviction in fifth and final fodder scam case related Doranda treasury. The case pertains to illegal withdrawal of Rs 139 crore in 1995-96 when he was the CM during the undivided Bihar. On February 15, a special CBI court in Ranchi held him guilty along with several others and pronounced five year jail term along with Rs 60 lakh fine on February 21. Since then, Lalu has been shifted to Rims on health grounds.
CBI, which is probing the fodder scam case, has pegged the entire scam worth Rs 950 crore and had booked Lalu in five different cases involving different treasuries falling in Jharkhand. In all the cases, he had been convicted with different jail terms and penalties.
