The Centre has decided to bail out railway minister Lalu Prasad in the disproportionate assets (DA) case with the law ministry advising CBI not to appeal against the designated court order acquitting the RJD supremo and his wife Rabri Devi.
According to sources, the law ministry has argued that proving DA cases has always been a tough proposition. Moreover, in this case, Lalu has also fortified his defence by securing an acquittal.
The sources said that the advice would be sent to the CBI shortly. The agency has time till March 16 to file an appeal against the acquittal by the CBI designated court in Patna which came on December 18 last year.
The decision of the law ministry is, however, not going to give complete relief to the railway minister as the Bihar government has already moved the Patna High Court, challenging Prasad's acquittal in the lower court. The CBI officials are nevertheless worried about the state government's move in filing the appeal on February 19. The HC has fixed March 20 as the next date of hearing when the agency will have to take the side of the state government.
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