On parole, Lalu arrives in Patna to attend son's marriage
Patna/Ranchi, May 10: The wait was finally over for his family, relatives, and party leaders and supporters, as jailed RJD chief Lalu Prasad arrived in Patna on Thursday evening to attend his elder son's marriage on May 12.
Lalu Prasad was received by his elder daughter and Rajya Sabha member Misa Bharti, his sons - former Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Tejashwi Yadav -- and some senior party leaders.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief was welcomed at the Patna airport like a hero, with hundreds of party leaders, workers and upbeat supporters holding his colourful pictures in hand and raising slogans in his praise.
He is availing a three-day parole granted by Ranchi's Birsa Munda Central Jail authorities, to allow him to attend the marriage. He is currently serving his jail term following conviction in the fodder scam.
With a festive mood already prevailing at Patna's sprawling 10, Circular Road bungalow -- allotted to former Bihar Chief Minister and Lalu Prasad's wife Rabri Devi, his presence is set to add more colour to the celebrations.
Former Bihar Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav got engaged last month to former Minister and senior RJD leader Chandrika Rai's daughter Aishwarya Rai. The wedding will take place here on May 12.
Earlier in the day, accompanied by a team of doctors and policemen, Lalu Prasad left the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS), where he is admitted for treatment, for Patna by a private carrier.
He will, however, remain under constant watch of the camera during the marriage, in line with the conditions of the parole. He will also not meet and speak to party leaders, media persons and not engage in any political activity.
"All his movements would be captured by video cameras," a jail official said.
Lalu has been undergoing treatment at RIMS after he was brought back to Ranchi from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, on May 1.
He was admitted to RIMS on March 17 as he complained of uneasiness in the jail.
The RJD chief has been convicted in four fodder scam cases since 2013, the latest being the Dumka treasury case in which a special CBI court sentenced him to 14 years in jail.
His provisional bail plea hearing is due to be taken up at the Jharkhand High Court on May 11.
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Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
