Ranchi, Dec.19: Thirty-one fodder suppliers and twelve animal husbandry department officials were sentenced to five to six years’ of rigorous imprisonment today.

They were also fined by the CBI special judge, Ranchi, B.K. Sahay today.

Of the 43 accused in the case, No: RC 50A/96, 37 are males while the remaining six are women.The case relates to fraudulent withdrawals of Rs 6.30 crore from the Chaibasa state treasury, located in west Singhbhum between 1991 and 1992 through fake fodder and medicine bills.

37 of the male accused were sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of six years’ along with fines ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 1 crore.

Those fined Rs 1 crore each included J.Bhengraj, former regional director, animal husbandry department (AHD), K.N.Jha, regional director, (AHD) and Krishna Mohan Prasad, assistant director (planning), AHD.The accused women were awarded rigorous imprisonment of 5 years’ and fined Rs 3 lakh to Rs 45 lakh. The case dragged on for so long that seven of the accused have already died.