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Laloo regains hold; guns for CBI official

Rashtriya Janata Dal president and former Bihar chief minister Laloo Prasad Yadav seems to be regaining his hold at the national level, thanks to the present political impasse.

With 17 members in the Lok Sabha, the party is expected to play a key role in the numbers game. Aware of his present position of strength, Laloo Yadav -- an accused in the Rs 9.5 billion fodder scam -- seems to be making the most of it.

Unconfirmed reports about the fate of a key official investigating the scam -- Central Bureau of Investigation Joint Director (east) U N Biwas -- leave little doubt about the RJD leader's growing clout.

Biswas has been indicted by the A P Dorai committee for seeking the army's help to execute the arrest warrant against Laloo Yadav. Following this, the Union home ministry has reportedly decided to transfer Biswas to his home -- West Bengal -- cadre. In fact, Union Home Minister Inderjit Gupta had assured Parliament that action would be taken against the CBI officer.

Sources said the relevant papers have been cleared by outgoing Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, following a reported deal between a trusted aide of Congress president Sitaram Kesri and Laloo Yadav in this regard.

Getting wind of the deal -- that Biswas would be stripped of his responsibility in the fodder scam investigation -- United Front leaders reportedly gave a similar assurance to the former Bihar chief minister. All they wanted was his continued support to the Front.

Confirming this, senior CBI officials said the decision amounts to contempt of the Supreme Court. For, in November 1996, the apex court was assured that Biwas would not be disturbed from the present assignment till he completes the investigation.

The officials also claimed a deliberate attempt is being made in the CBI to cold-shoulder Biswas. Not only has CBI Director R C Sharma stopped communicating with his deputy on the case but sundry officers have been seeking 'clarifications' and files pertaining to the case from Biswas.

EARLIER REPORTS:
Supreme Court pulls up Patna high court in Laloo case

Biswas was in a hurry to arrest Laloo: Gupta

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