The Ranchi CBI Court has sentenced former Bihar Minister Ilyas Hussain along with five others to three years imprisonment in the tar scandal case. Additionally, each has been fined 15 lakh rupees, failing which they will serve extra time. Alongside Ilyas Hussain, Shahabuddin Beg, Ashok Kumar Agrawal, and Vinay Kumar Sinha were also convicted for the embezzlement of 27.70 lakh rupees.
This verdict is related to FIR number RC11/97 concerning multiple charges filed by the CBI 28 years ago. The CBI's investigation revealed a scam involving 510 metric tons of tar in the Hazaribagh unit of the road construction department in 1994. No tar was actually procured, despite it being shown as utilized in roadworks.
Valued at 27.70 lakh rupees back then, the investigation disclosed that the procurement was fraudulent, involving fake records. On examining all parties and evidence, the CBI court pronounced the defendants guilty, sentencing five to three years each while acquitting seven others. Notably, Ilyas Hussain was a minister in the cabinet of former CM Lalu Yadav, a prominent leader.
