PATNA, May 21: Bihar Governor A R Kidwai today said he would take a decision on according a sanction for prosecution of Chief Minister Laloo Prasad and others in the fodder scam ``only after receiving clarification from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).''

``I have sought more clarifications from the CBI on some certain points and shall be able to take a decision only when I receive them,'' he said in a communication to the press here.

The governor said in the communication, ``I have undertaken a primary review of the documents submitted by the CBI to me for five days after receiving them on the evening of May 10.''

Kidwai said he had subsequently called the CBI officials to discuss the investigation report and the agency's request for prosecuting Laloo Prasad, Union Minister for Rural Area and Employment Chandradeo Prasad Verma, two Bihar ministers, Bholaram Toofani and Vidyasagar Nishad and former state chief minister Jagannath Mishra in the scam.

``I will make an in-depth study of all the relevant points after receiving CBI's clarifications and then only I can be able to arrive at a conclusion.'' If necessary he would also seek ``legal advice'' on the matter, Kidwai added. CBI Joint Director (East) U N Biswas had called on the governor on a summon on May 15 and the two had talks for over an hour on the investigation report and the CBI's request for prosecuting the chief minister. Earlier, the Patna High Court, which had on May 19 asked the state and Central governments to set a time-frame for according sanction to prosecute the public servants in the multi-crore scam, would hear the case tomorrow.

In yet another development, the BJP today criticised the prime minister and Bihar governor for ``willfully delaying sanction to prosecute Laloo Prasad, and others, under political pressure'' as Kidwai said he would take a decision on granting permission after receiving clarifications from the Central agency.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.