Tej Pratap Yadav Sent To 14-Day Judicial Custody Over Bihar Bandh Violence Case

Former Bihar minister and Janshakti Janata Dal president Tej Pratap Yadav was sent to 14 days’ judicial custody by a Patna court in the early hours of Sunday following his arrest in connection with violence during the Bihar Bandh over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak controversy.

Yadav was produced before a judicial magistrate shortly after midnight after being brought from Naubatpur police station. 

Following the court’s remand order, he was shifted to Beur Central Jail. His lawyer Jagannath Singh said the defence had received the arrest memo and would file a regular bail plea on Monday.

Violence During NEET Protest

The case is linked to the violence reported in the Gandhi Maidan area during Saturday’s Bihar Bandh, where protests over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy turned tense, with incidents of stone-pelting, vandalism and clashes with police.

An FIR registered at Gandhi Maidan police station has accused Yadav of several offences, including rioting, allegedly attacking police personnel, damaging a police vehicle, obstructing public servants from performing their duties and causing injuries to the station house officer.

Yadav Taken Into Custody

Tej Pratap Yadav, the son of former Bihar Chief Ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi was with the protesters at Ram Gulam Chowk close to Gandhi Maidan. He was supporting the Bihar Bandh. Police took him into custody from the protest area on Saturday afternoon. He was released after a hours.

Police started looking for him again in the evening. At 7:30 pm a police group found Yadav at City Centre Mall, in the center of Patna. They took him into custody again. Then officially arrested him.

Yadav Faces Non-Bailable Charges

According to his lawyer, one of the major sections invoked against Yadav is Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which relates to an attempt to murder charge. Since the offence is non-bailable, Yadav could not seek bail at the police station and will have to approach the court for regular bail.