The Patna High Court today granted bail to RJD MP Sadhu Yadav in the flood scam. The controversial MP got bail after spending nearly one month in jail in connection with the scam that was first exposed by The Indian Express.

Pleading for his bail, the MPs counsel argued that his client deserved bail as he had already spent one month in jail and charges against him were not of a serious nature. Justice Mridula Mishra granted bail to the MP after hearing the Vigilance department counsel as well as Yadav’s.

So far most of the total 16 chargesheeted in the scam have secured bail. Recently, Santosh Jha, the kingpin of the scam, as well as prime accused former Patna DM Gautam Goswami were also granted bail by the HC.

The main reason behind all the accused being bailed out is the non commencement of trial in the scam. And it is just because of one person, IAS officer Goswami, against whom the mandatory sanction from the Centre’s Personnel Department is pending for the last one year. To try an IAS officer in Prevention of Corruption Act cases, it is mandatory to obtain sanction.

ADG Vigilance Neelmani said that once again they have written to the Centre urging for the sanction against the IAS officer, while pointing out that it had come in the way of commencement of trial in the case. “The Personnel Department should sit over the matter. They should either grant or reject the sanction. The trial is being held up just because of this one road block,” Neelmani said. In the scam, Sadhu Yadav has been charged of being a beneficiary. A sum of Rs 6 lakh was transferred in the MP’s bank account by Jha.