Controversial RJD MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav, accused of raping a minor girl last month, surrendered in a courthere in Bihar’s Nalanda district today after being on the run.
Yadav, 50, MLA from Nawada, surrendered in the court of Additional District Judge Rashmi Sikha in the alleged rape of a 15-year-old school girl studying in class X on February 6.
The court sent him to 14 days judicial custody and the MLA was forwarded to Biharsharif divisional jail later on.
He travelled to the court in a car whose glasses were covered by newspapers to hide his identity.
People close to the MLA said he changed three vehicles before coming to the court in the car.
When reporters sought his reaction over the episode, Yadav said, “I have faith in court.”
Yadav, who had served as a minister in the government of Rabri Devi, was eluding police for the past one month.
The MLA’s episode had triggered widespread condemnation for the grand secular alliance government headed by Nitish Kumar.
The MLA had allegedly raped the girl who was lured by a woman to the MLA’s residence here on February 6. Yadav had allegedly paid Rs 30,000 to the woman for bringing the girl.
It was reported that the MLA had prepared a CD of the obscene act and had threatened to hand it over to his security guards if she resisted rape.
The MLA was denied anticipatory bail by both Nalanda district court as well the Patna High Court.
The court of ADJ Rashmi Sikha had given permission for attachment of properties of the fugitive MLA at Nalanda, Nawada and Patna, which was carried out by police.
The RJD has put him under suspension.
(REOPENS LGC 3)
Deputy Inspector General of (DIG) Police Shalin had issued an arrest order following the complaint by the girl who had alleged Yadav raped her at his residence at Pathra within the limits of Mufassil police station.
Her statement was recorded under section 164 of IPC and an FIR was lodged against Yadav with the Women’s Police Station, Nalanda, on February 9.
The National Commission for Women had sent a two-member team to Nalanda in the wake of the rape case.
The BJP had called a Biharsharif bandh on March 6 to put pressure on the state government to arrest Yadav.
Reacting to the MLA’s arrest, senior state minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav attacked the BJP in the Legislative Council for targeting the RJD MLA out of caste consideration.
“While a big fish like Vijay Mallya fled the country, there appears to be a race among the Opposition party to raise issue on the basis of caste consideration,” Bijendra Yadav, a senior JD(U) leader and state energy minister, said in the Council in an apparent reference to Yadav who hails from the OBC caste.
JD(U) leader Shyam Rajak termed it as an outcome of the rule of law prevailing in Bihar under Nitish Kumar.
But, BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, attacked the government for failing to arrest the fugitive MLA for such a long time.
“Raj Ballabh Yadav proved he is stronger than the might of the Nitish Kumar government. Enjoying patronage of Lalu Prasad, the MLA stayed away from the law and surrendered only when he chose to do so,” Modi told reporters outside the Council.
Sushil Modi, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Council, said he has doubts if the RJD MLA would be subjected to speedy trial by the Nitish Kumar government.
(Reopens CES 15)
Modi also described Yadav’s surrender as a “loss of
face” for Nitish Kumar.
“Yadav’s surrender is a loss of face for the Chief Minister who never misses an opportunity to harp on good governance and rule of law under his rule,” he said, adding RJD supremo Lalu Prasad has won the battle of oneupmanship with Kumar as his party MLA could not be arrested by Bihar Police.
The senior BJP leader asked Nitish to ensure speedy trial and conviction of the RJD MLA within a month.
“Kumar owes an explanation to the people of Bihar as to how could Raj Ballabh Yadav remain underground for a month when the Bihar Police was in hot pursuit of the fugitive MLA, who could not have dodged the arms of law without political patronage,” Modi said.
( Source – PTI )
