Independent MP Pappu Yadav Secures Bail in Decades-Old Fraud Case
In a significant legal development, independent Member of Parliament from Purnia, Rajesh Ranjan, widely known as Pappu Yadav, was granted bail on Tuesday by the MP-MLA court in Patna. This ruling pertains to a fraud and forgery case that dates back an astonishing 31 years to 1995, registered at the Gardanibagh police station.
Details of the Historic Case and Current Legal Status
The case involves serious allegations under old sections of the Indian Penal Code, including charges of cheating, forgery, criminal intimidation, and conspiracy. Despite this bail victory in the primary case, Yadav will not be released immediately. He remains in judicial custody at Beur Central Jail due to pending matters in two separate cases.
His legal representative, advocate Shivnandan Bharti, clarified the situation after the hearing. "Yadav was granted bail in the alleged fraud case, but hearings for bail in two separate cases linked to Kotwali and Buddha Colony police stations will be held on Wednesday," Bharti stated.
Allegations of Political Conspiracy and Police Misconduct
Bharti strongly asserted that the multiple cases against his client were deliberately registered. "These cases were deliberately registered against my client. He has been accused of obstructing government work and hindering police action last week when police came to his residence in Patna to arrest him," the advocate told reporters.
Expressing unwavering confidence in the judicial system, Bharti predicted that Yadav would be released from jail after completion of all necessary paperwork by Thursday.
Dramatic Courtroom Proceedings and Emotional Outburst
The bail hearing itself was marked by high drama. Yadav was transported from Beur jail to the Patna civil court around 12:30 PM, with proceedings commencing at 2 PM before additional chief judicial magistrate-I-cum-special judge Praveen Kumar Malviya.
Due to health concerns, the MP remained seated in a wheelchair throughout the court session. During his address to the judge, Yadav became visibly emotional, breaking down in tears as he made serious allegations against the Patna police.
He accused law enforcement officials of misconduct and alleged a conspiracy to harm him physically. Yadav claimed that police were attempting to kill him by administering some form of injection while he was lodged in Beur jail, adding a grave dimension to the already contentious case.
Background of the Arrest and Political Context
Yadav's arrest on Friday night stemmed from a long-pending warrant in the 1995 case, issued due to his repeated failure to appear in court over the years. The original complaint was filed by Vinod Bihari Lal, who alleged that the MP had fraudulently rented his house by concealing the intended use.
According to the complainant, Yadav later converted the property into an office without disclosing this purpose at the time of the rental agreement, forming the basis of the fraud allegations.
The arrest itself occurred under dramatic circumstances at midnight on February 6 from Yadav's Mandiri residence under Buddha Colony police station jurisdiction. The timing sparked immediate controversy, with opposition leaders characterizing it as "political vendetta" connected to Yadav's vocal criticism of the state government.
Specifically, Yadav had been demanding accountability regarding the recent suspicious death of a medical aspirant in Patna, calling for a thorough investigation into the incident and improved safety measures for girls in hostels. This political context has added layers of complexity to the legal proceedings against the independent parliamentarian.
