Patna, Apr 5 (IANS): The Bihar government Friday ordered a probe to locate registration documents pertaining to lands that were purchased with funds siphoned off during the fodder scam in the state in the mid-1990s.

Registration and Excise Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav admitted that registration documents of land purchases related to the fodder scam could not be traced.

He, however, asserted that the documents would soon be found. "It is not proper to term it as a 'missing case'. The concerned officials have been directed to trace the documents," he told news persons.

"I was informed by officials that registration documents were sent to different circle officers in Patna district for official work, and they have not been returned," he explained.

Yadav said he has directed the Patna district magistrate to conduct a thorough investigation.

"Action would be taken against officials found guilty, if documents are missing," he said.

Ruling BJP legislator Vinod Narayan Jha Thursday said that about 525 documents of land registration deeds, mostly related to the fodder scam, had gone missing from the Patna registry office.

The fodder scam of the mid-1990s related to the misuse of funds by politicians and government officials, who withdrew large amounts illegally on the pretext of purchasing fodder.

Last year, a special Bihar court framed charges against former chief ministers Lalu Prasad and Jagannath Mishra, along with 32 others, in a case related to fraudulent withdrawal of funds from the state treasury to purchase fodder for public distribution.