New Delhi. That dark chapter of Bihar politics, where fodder for cows and buffaloes became the biggest political enemy of RJD supremo Lalu Yadav. A leader of Bihar politics of the 1990s, whose earthy fragrance was always present. He was crowned Chief Minister in 1990, but the Animal Husbandry Department, which used to arrange fodder for cows and buffaloes, became the same department due to rot at the roots of his power. Even today, bells ring in the ears of the people of Bihar when they hear the name fodder scam. This was no ordinary corruption. According to that time, this was a loot of ₹950 crore, which in today’s terms was more than ₹48 billion. Fake bills, fake suppliers and withdrawal from the government treasury put Lalu Yadav in the dock.
The CBI investigation revealed a nexus between veterinarians, officers, businessmen and politicians. Bills were paid that cows were brought from Haryana on scooters. Cow fodder was dropped from helicopter. Whereas, in reality there was no fodder, no cows and only loot on paper. The beginning of the story started from 1995. Bihar government was bankrupt. There was no money left to pay salaries. The then Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi, Amit Khare (currently posted in the PMO), noticed strange withdrawal documents from the treasury. The Animal Husbandry Department had withdrawn crores without collateral. Khare told District Magistrate V.S. Reported to Dubey. Dubey wrote a letter to CBI. CBI raid took place in January 1996.
How did Lalu Yadav get trapped in the fodder scam?
But the real storm came in March 1996. On a PIL, Patna High Court handed over the case to CBI. The Supreme Court approved it. When the investigation started, the thread reached Lalu Prasad Yadav. Lalu, who was then the Chief Minister of Bihar, was now at the center of the scam. CBI Joint Director Upendra Nath Biswas (U.N. Biswas) investigated without fear. In May 1997, CBI wrote a letter to the Governor of Bihar asking for permission to prosecute Lalu Yadav.
Who was the director of CBI?
In July 1997, Lalu had to surrender in the CBI court. When Janata Dal put pressure, Lalu resigned. But by forming a separate party, he made his wife Rabri Devi the Chief Minister. But this was the only political trick that kept Bihar politics in his grip for 15 years. CBI filed a charge sheet in 1997, in which charges were framed against Lalu and 55 others. The scam was divided into 53 cases, in which more than 500 accused were involved.
How many cases and how many years of punishment against Lalu Yadav?
Five cases were filed against Lalu Yadav in different cases of fodder scam. The CBI investigation increased Lalu’s problems, although it took decades to get the punishment. The first conviction in 2013 was 5 years’ imprisonment for embezzlement of ₹37.7 crore from Chaibasa treasury. But the Supreme Court granted bail in December 2013. Then in 2017-2018, he was sentenced to 3.5 years for withdrawing ₹89 crore from Deoghar treasury. In the second case of Chaibasa, another 5 years imprisonment for withdrawal of ₹ 33 crores. 5 years imprisonment for withdrawal of ₹139 crore in Dumka. 5 years imprisonment for withdrawing ₹139 crore from Doranda treasury in 2022. Overall, Lalu has been sentenced to more than 50 years so far, but he is out on bail and appeals.
Story from 1996 to 2025
After the fodder scam came to light, i.e. from 1996 to December 2025, a total of 13 CBI directors were made. These were those officers during whose tenure the case was investigated, chargesheets were prepared and punishments were given. Of these, two CBI directors and about a dozen investigating officers have died so far. IPS officer Joginder Singh was the Director of CBI from July 1997 to March 1998. It was during his tenure that Lalu Yadav had to resign from the post of CM. Joginder Singh died in the year 2017.
How many CBI directors have died?
After this, M. Narayanan remained CBI Director from April 1998 to December 1999. After this, RK Raghavan was CBI Director from December 1999 to March 2001. Rajinder Kumar, US Mishra, Vijay Shankar Tiwari, Ashwini Kumar, A.P. Singh then became the CBI Director, who is still alive. But Bihar cadre IPS officer Ranjit Sinha was the CBI Director from December 2012 to May 2015. But he died in 2024. After this, the tenure of Anil Kumar Sinha, Alok Verma, M. Nageshwar Rao, Rishi Kumar Shukla happened.
Overall, a total of 13 CBI directors have been appointed after the fodder scam. During Ranjit Sinha’s tenure, Lalu Yadav’s first punishment was in the year 2013. Under Sinha’s leadership, the CBI gathered strong evidence against Lalu, which became the foundation of subsequent convictions. At the same time, Lalu Yadav got some relief during Alok Verma 2017-2019. It was during Verma’s tenure that Lalu got medical bail in 2018. But his tenure was controversial. Today in 2025 when Lalu Yadav has grown old, the fodder scam has become a lesson.
