ORDER

Leave granted.

2. These appeals by special leave are against the order dated 7.10.1996 passed by the Patna High Court in CWJC No. 1617 of 1996 and CWJC No. 602 of 1996. The material facts leading to these appeals, in brief, are stated hereafter.

3. Writ Petitions numbered as CWJC Nos. 1617 of 1996 and 602 of 1996 were filed in the Patna High Court alleging large-scale misappropriation of public funds to the extent of several hundred crores of rupees by indulging into fraudulent transactions and falsification of accounts in the Animal Husbandry Department in the State of Bihar over a long period between the years 1977-78 to 1995-96 which has come to be known as Fodder Scam . An in-depth investigation into the Fodder Scam was called for. The High Court by an order dated 11.3.1996 directed the investigation to be entrusted to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and further directed as under :

".....I would accordingly direct the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) through its Director to enquire and scrutinise all cases of excess drawals and expenditure in the Deptt. of Animal Husbandry in the State of Bihar during 1977-78 to 1995-96 and lodge cases where the drawals are fo