Laloo Prasad sent to jail

Laloo Prasad Yadav: Bail application rejected

One of India's most controversial political leaders, Laloo Prasad Yadav, has been sent to jail in a corruption case known as the fodder scam.

Mr Yadav, who is a former chief minister of Bihar, was remanded in judicial custody along with another former chief minister, Jagannath Misra.

The two leaders were remanded for 14 days after a court in the neighbouring state of Jharkhand rejected their bail applications.

Mr Yadav and Mr Misra are among many top politicians and civil servants being investigated by India's Central Bureau of Investigation for their alleged role in siphoning off millions of dollars meant to be spent on animal husbandry - hence the name fodder scam.

Jail trips

Mr Yadav, who is the president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, has been in and out of jail over the past four years.

Laloo Prasad and Rabri Devi: Bihar's first couple

This is the fifth time he has been sent to jail in connection with the scandal.

But some analysts say this time will be different as he is being heldl outside the state of Bihar, his political home ground which is governed by his wife, Rabri Devi.

Mr Yadav said he would go to the state's High Court or even the Supreme Court for bail.

'Grand' surrender

On Sunday, Mr Yadav left Bihar in a large convoy to surrender before the court in Jharkhand.

Accompanied by many ministers from Bihar and a large number of supporters, Mr Yadav addressed public meetings on his way to Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand.

He said he was being sent to jail following a conspiracy hatched by India's main governing Bharatiya Janata Party.

He said his prison term would not affect the stability of his wife's government in Bihar.

Laloo's troubles

The troubles for Laloo Yadav began in 1996 when government auditors discovered that millions of dollars had been siphoned off from funds meant for animal husbandry.

Although he says he is innocent, Mr Yadav was forced to resign as the chief minister of Bihar due to the scandal.

He shocked many in the country when he decided to make his wife, Rabri Devi, his successor in the government.

Many critics say Ms Devi is a mere figurehead and Laloo Yadav is running the state by proxy.

Despite the scandal, Yadav's party emerged as the single largest party in the state elections in March last year and his wife was again sworn-in the chief minister.