Patna: The special CBI court in Patna, supposed to conduct trial on day-to-day basis in the fodder scam case, has nothing to do for the past over two months. As a result, the court has become almost defunct.

The court, headed by Devraj Tripathi, was set up for speedy trial on the directive of the high court, which had asked it to ensure day-to-day trial in the fodder scam case in which former chief minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad and 27 others were made accused.

The court was to probe fodder scam cases related to the Bhagalpur and Banka district treasuries. The proceedings continued on a regular basis till nine accused, including Lalu Prasad, were issued summons asking them to depose before the court.

But Lalu and others could not appear in the Patna special CBI court, as they were already in judicial custody at Ranchi in another fodder scam case.

The Patna CBI court had issued summons on January 3 this year. Till date, they have not been produced in the court here. "As the trial in the fodder scam case is hampered due to non-appearance of Lalu and eight other accused, the court has decided to take other cases under CBI probe," said an employee of the special CBI court on condition of anonymity.

A case related to the disproportionate assets against another fodder scam accused former MP R.K. Rana was pending for trial in the court.

An official of the special CBI court said records related to several cases, excluding the cases related to the Food Corporation of India (FCI), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the railways and income tax investigated by the CBI, have been transferred to the special CBI court for further action on Thursday. That will ease the pressure on the two other CBI courts assigned to conduct trial of the cases of other criminal offences, he said, adding this too was done on the directive of the high court.

CBI special public prosecutor R.N. Singh said on Friday that trial had been started in many cases except fodder scam case and disproportionate assets case.