New Delhi: In a major setback to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected his plea seeking transfer of the trial court judge hearing the case against him in the fodder scam in Jharkhand.

The Apex Court bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam while directing the trial court to complete the trial as early as possible gave another five days to the prosecution to complete their arguments and 10 days to the accused persons to present their side of the case.

The court said that trial court will pronounce its verdict without being influenced by whatever has been said by the Ranchi High Court and by the Supreme Court. The court also noted that the judge sought to be changed by Lalu Prasad at this stage of the trial has been hearing the matter since 2011.