by Alok Mohit
PATNA: A designated CBI court in Ranchi, capital of Jharkhand state, on Friday ordered release of ailing Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad’s passport, paving way for his travel to Singapore for the treatment of his kidney disease.
The court passed the order after hearing Prasad’s petition through his lawyer.
The 74-year-old Prasad, who is convicted in multiple fodder scam cases, is currently on bail and recuperating at his wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi’s official residence in Patna.
His passport was seized by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the fodder scam cases against him.
On September 13, Prasad, also a former Bihar chief minister, had filed a petition seeking the release of his passport for renewal as he had to go abroad for a kidney transplant. Prasad’s lawyer had pleaded that his appointment with a Singapore-based doctor was fixed on September 24.
Earlier on June 14, the special CBI court had ordered the release of Prasad’s passport for its renewal. After the renewal, the passport was gain submitted to the court on August 31.
Apart from kidney disease, Prasad is also suffering from hypertension, diabetes and cardiac problems.
Family members of the RJD chief are likely to accompany Prasad to the island nation where one of his daughters, Rohini Archarya, is settled.
