Patna/New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and his wife, former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, were Monday acquitted by a court on charges of corruption, saving Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from possible embarrassment over a key cabinet minister.

Soon after the verdict was delivered in a special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Patna, the high-profile political couple - once the first couple of Bihar - praised the country's judiciary and even equated it with god.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief was acquitted on charges of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known assets - a legal euphemism for corruption.

The court verdict was welcome news for Manmohan Singh, coming as it does within weeks of the conviction and imprisonment of a cabinet minister - coal minister Shibu Soren - of murder. The opposition had then attacked the government for harbouring criminals and corrupt elements.

Lalu Prasad is, however, still facing trial in what is known as the multi-million-fodder scam where he is charged with embezzling funds from the state's animal husbandry department meant for cattle fodder.

"I salute the judiciary for justice at last," said Lalu Prasad, surrounded by RJD party leaders in the sprawling 10 Circular Road official residence of Rabri Devi, leader of opposition in the state assembly.

"God is great, the judiciary is great and both are equal," a smiling Lalu Prasad told newspersons. He admitted that he had faced a bad phase during the last eight years since the corruption case was lodged against him and his wife.

The RJD chief said that anxiety and stress had become his companions ever since the corruption charges were filed against him. However, he said he did not bother much as he was confident he would get justice and had full faith in the judiciary.

"At last we have got justice, we are happy," Lalu Prasad said.

He said that his case was a trial by the media and rival parties. "It was not only political rivals, who hardly missed an opportunity to tarnish my image, even a section of media campaigned against me. A trial by a section of the media also hurt me. But the court verdict has proved all of them wrong," he said.

Rabri Devi said her faith in the judiciary was proved right. "Humko insaaf aur nyay mila hain, hum khus hain (We got justice, we are happy)," she said.

Rabri Devi, who was the state's chief minister for ten years, did not hide her happiness as she said: "Hum nyayalay ko dhanyabad karte hain, hame nyay mila hain (I thank the judiciary for giving us justice)."

She said her political rivals had conspired against them and tried to harass them. Ahead of the court verdict, the couple organised a big 'puja' to propitiate the gods in the hope of a favourable verdict.

Most central ministers from RJD and party MPs and legislators were camping in Patna since Saturday to lend moral support to the couple.

"It was party time inside the sprawling bungalow with 'memsaheb' (Rabri Devi) and 'saheb' (Lalu Prasad) and their children and RJD leaders laughing and sharing sweets," said a staff member of the household after the verdict.

Outside the big green iron gates, RJD leaders and workers gathered in large numbers, shouting slogans, bursting crackers and distributing sweets.

The CBI court had said the couple was innocent of the charges of amassing Rs.4.6 million, disproportionate to Lalu Prasad's known income during 1990-97 when he was chief minister of Bihar. Rabri Devi was included in the chargesheet later.

The CBI had lodged the case in 1998. The hearing in the case concluded on Dec 4.