In a significant development in Jhansi, former Samajwadi Party legislator Deepnarayan Singh Yadav finally surrendered before a special court on Thursday. The two-time ex-MLA from the Garotha constituency had been evading arrest since November 21 in a serious case involving allegations of dacoity, extortion, and criminal intimidation.
The Case and The Surrender
The case, registered at the Moth police station, accuses Yadav and his associates of forcing an individual to transfer his land. After over a month on the run, the former lawmaker presented himself at the Special MP/MLA court in Jhansi. In a move to avoid attention, Yadav arrived at the district court on a motorcycle while wearing a helmet. He proceeded directly to his advocate's chamber before entering the courtroom.
Surrounded by a battery of lawyers, Deepnarayan Singh Yadav formally surrendered before the court's judge, Jitendra Yadav. Following the proceedings, the court sent him to judicial remand. Additional District Government Counsel (ADGC) Rajendra Rawat confirmed that the next hearing in this high-profile case is scheduled for December 24.
Properties Worth Crores Attached
In a related action preceding his surrender, the district administration took stringent steps against the former MLA's assets. On Saturday, acting on the orders of the district magistrate under the stringent Gangster Act, authorities attached properties belonging to Deepnarayan Singh Yadav worth a staggering ₹20.20 crore. This substantial seizure underscores the seriousness of the charges and the administration's crackdown on alleged gangster activities and illicit asset accumulation.
Legal and Political Repercussions
The surrender marks a crucial turn in a case that has drawn considerable public and legal scrutiny. The charges of dacoity and extortion, particularly involving land grabbing, point to severe allegations of abuse of power. The application of the Gangster Act, leading to the massive property attachment, indicates that the authorities are treating this as an organized crime matter.
For the Samajwadi Party and the political landscape of the Garotha constituency in Jhansi, the incident is a major embarrassment. The image of a former MLA arriving incognito on a two-wheeler to surrender highlights a dramatic fall from grace. All eyes will now be on the judicial process as it unfolds, with the next court date set for late December.
