Arrest Amid High Drama
Independent MP from Bihar’s Purnea, Pappu Yadav (alias Rajesh Ranjan), faced arrest by Patna Police at his Mandiri residence late Friday night in a 1995 forgery case. A team of about 50 officers arrived around 10:30 p.m. to execute a property attachment warrant issued by the MP/MLA court due to the lawmaker’s repeated failure to attend hearings.
The operation unfolded with significant tension. Yadav initially refused to accompany the police at night, urging them to return in the morning. Supporters quickly gathered outside, chanting slogans against local authorities. Officers presented the warrant only after demands from the crowd. Yadav highlighted the presence of an inspector named Deepak, who arrived in civilian attire carrying a revolver.
Details of the Forgery Allegations
The case originates from a complaint filed at Gardanibagh police station by property owner Vinod Bihari Lal. He accuses Yadav of fraudulently acquiring the house under false pretenses during the rental agreement, concealing its intended use as an office.
Patna City SP Bhanu Pratap Singh explained the procedural background: “Action has been taken in accordance with the court’s order. The trial was ongoing in court, and the MP was supposed to appear, but he did not appear on the scheduled date. Therefore, he is being arrested.” Originally filed under the previous Penal Code, the matter now falls under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Yadav’s Claims and Health Concerns
Following his arrest at 12:15 a.m., Yadav voiced serious safety fears. “I have doubt that these people might have killed me,” he stated. “Police reached here in civil uniform like criminals. I thought they had come to kill me. Is this a criminal’s house?” He added that the court had summoned him for the next day and suggested house arrest as an option, questioning the nighttime raid in plainclothes.
Yadav, who described himself as unwell, insisted on heading directly to court rather than the police station. Due to health concerns, authorities transported him to IGIMS hospital for a medical examination before placing him in custody at Gardanibagh Police Station. He is scheduled to appear in court, after which police will follow judicial directives.
