PATNA: The special CBI court in Ranchi will pronounce the quantum of punishment for Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad and 15 other convicts in a fodder scam case on Saturday.

Special judge Shivpal Singh was listed to pronounce the quantum of punishment on Wednesday but postponed after the following condolence the death of two lawyers, who passed away a moment ago.

On Friday, Lalu appeared before the court of CBI special judge Shiv Pal Singh for the sentencing hearing through video conferencing from Birsa Munda central jail and in a written petition required leniency because of his illness and old age, his counsel Chittaranjan Prasad told.

The court had recovered Lalu Prasad was convicted for offenses of cheating with criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

As per legal experts, Lalu Prasad would be able to apply for bail instantly at the lower court itself if the quantum of punishment is to be less than three years.

Earlier, he was given five years detention in 2013 in a case relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 33.61 crore from the Chaibasa treasury.

The RJD supremo was later set free on bail granted by the Supreme Court.