Jharkhand High Court has sought a detailed report from prison authorities in the wake of reports of alleged violation of the jail manual by incarcerated RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, convicted in cases related to the Rs 970 crore fodder scam.

While hearing a case pertaining to the appeal filed by Lalu seeking squashing of his remaining jail term in connection with the Dumka treasury case involving the illegal withdrawal of Rs 3.13 crore on Friday, the court of Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh asked jail authorities to submit a report before the next hearing on December 18.

Jail authorities were also asked to furnish provisions for providing attendants to a convict and their opinion on frequent reports of violations. To a question on who allowed Lalu to be shifted to RIMS director's bungalow, additional advocate general Ashutosh Anand said it was done as per SOPs fixed by the hospital authorities and the state government in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the hearing, CBI in its plea before the court accused Lalu of using a phone despite being in jail and cited news reports of him allegedly trying to lure BJP MLAs of Bihar ahead of the Speaker’s election last month. The central agency also told the court that it had filed a fresh FIR against Lalu in this connection.

A purported audio clip of Lalu’s alleged conversation over a phone provided to him by his attendant at the RIMS director’s bungalow had gone viral on social media.

Lalu was later shifted back to the paying ward of the state-run hospital by the Ranchi district administration following widespread criticism and protests by the Opposition BJP. Citing news reports, CBI also alleged that Lalu continued to meet party workers and people whenever he wished, dubbing it a violation of jail manual.

Notably, Birsa jail authorities, in response to a showcause notice issued by Ranchi deputy commissioner Chhavi Ranjan last week, pinned the blame on Ranchi policemen on duty for the lapse. Birsa jail said ensuring security and the implementation of the jail manual outside the jail was the responsibility of district police.

On November 27, the high court had deferred Lalu’s petition for bail and suspension of sentence. The RJD chief’s counsel, Prabhat Kumar, said in his plea for bail on health grounds that of the seven-year sentence his client was awarded in the Dumka treasury case, he had already spent 3.5 years in jail.

Lalu has been in custody since January 2018 and is currently undergoing treatment for various age-related ailments at RIMS. He was shifted to the director’s bungalow for fear of infection in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic in August.