Ranchi, Aug. 18: Jharkhand High Court today sought a report of proceedings of the court of CBI special judge Shiv Pal Singh that is hearing a fodder scam case against RJD chief Lalu Prasad in Ranchi.

Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh of the high court denied the pleas of Lalu's lawyers, who sought a stay on the proceedings of the trial court, citing bias on the part of judge Shiv Pal Singh. Instead, the high court called for a report of the proceedings of July 29, August 3 and 10 of the lower court that is hearing case RC 64(A)/1996, which is about the illegal withdrawal of Rs 85 lakh from Deoghar treasury.

The high court will hear Lalu's plea to transfer RC 64(A)/1996 again on August 25.

Lalu, who was present in the high court, did not speak. His advocates argued that the CBI special judge had demonstrated through his actions that was favourably disposed towards their client. Despite being told that a transfer petition had been filed before the high court, the lower court was continuing hearings with haste.

Lalu's lawyers told the high court that Sunil Kumar, director general and CMD Bihar's building construction department, was called as a witness to testify on July 29. But, Kumar sought another date citing official exigency.

Special judge Shiv Pal Singh then clamped a stay on Kumar salary and ordered him to appear on August 3. Kumar did as ordered, but the lawyers alleged, the CBI judge allegedly asked him about his caste before recording his statement.

But subsequently, the special judge tore up his statement and fixed August 10 as the next date when his statement would be recorded.

Lalu's lawyers alleged that the very action of a judge tearing up the evidence after having recorded it in open court indicated his bias.