Patna/Ranchi: Bihar Health minister Mangal Pandey on Tuesday said jailed RJD chief Lalu Prasad was not only a corrupt person but was closely connected to criminals.

Pandey's statement came after a local vernacular newspaper published an article claiming that two persons implicated themselves in a false case and were serving Lalu at Birsa Munda Central Jail, where the RJD chief is lodged.

A row has erupted following the media report that the two "personal aides" of Lalu Prasad were sent to prison to "serve" him hours before the RJD chief was sent there after being convicted in a fodder scam case.

The RJD, however, jumped to its leader's defence, insisting the presence of Lakshman Mahto and Madan Yadav in jail was "conicidental".

The local daily claimed that Mahto and Yadav were serving Lalu as helper and cook.

The superintendent of Birsa Munda Central Jail, could not be reached immediately for comment. Other officials were tight-lipped.

The JDU also latched onto the news report to attack the RJD leader.

Dal spokesman and MLC Neeraj Kumar issued a statement in Patna: "Lalu is a person with feudal mindset who could make his party workers go to any extent to serve his personal interest. This shows that Lalu Prasad's commitment to social justice is a sham and he cares only for himself and his family members."

RJD spokesman Shakti Singh Yadav trashed the allegation that Lalu "managed" to have his two aides behind bars to serve him, saying their presence in jail was "coincidental", and the two had criminal cases against them.

The nature of offences for which they were in jail was, however, not clear.

Shakti asked those claiming that Mahto and Yadav were serving Lalu in jail to come up with evidence. PTI