Bihar ex-MLA Anant Singh, 2 others arrested over Dular Chand Yadav death case in Mokama

JD(U) candidate from Mokama and controversial former MLA, Anant Singh, was arrested by Patna police shortly after midnight on Saturday in connection with the murder of RJD leader Dular Chand Yadav earlier this week.

Patna SSP Kartikeya Sharma held a press conference after midnight to announce the arrest, stating: “Three persons, including Anant Singh, have been arrested in connection with the unfortunate incident in Mokama involving stone-pelting between two rival groups, resulting in the murder of one person. I would like to assure the voters of Patna that they can vote fearlessly and that the Patna police stands by the people to ensure peaceful elections.”

The SSP added that a total of 80 people have been arrested in cases related to the stone-pelting incident, and three specifically for the murder. The case remains under investigation.

Responding to claims by Anant Singh that his opponent Surajbhan Singh—whose wife Veena Devi is the RJD candidate—was behind the killing to defame him, the SSP said investigations are ongoing.

Police sources reported that heavy security was deployed at the location in Mokama where Anant Singh was staying.

The SSP personally went there, held a meeting with Singh—who has a known history of criminal cases—and convinced him to surrender. Singh agreed, accompanied the SSP to Patna, and was presented before a magistrate before being sent to judicial custody. He reportedly instructed his supporters not to stage protests over his arrest.

The murder, which took place on October 30, caused significant political upheaval in Bihar.

Opposition parties accused the government of a soft response, prompting the Election Commission to issue a notice to the Bihar Chief Secretary and DGP and remove the Rural SP from his post.

JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said: “I will not talk about the incident, but it underlines the fact that under Nitish Kumar there is no interference in police functioning, whoever it may be.”

The victim, Dular Chand Yadav, a longtime RJD supporter close to Lalu Prasad, had a controversial past with allegations of kidnapping, murder, and extortion.

Notably, he was campaigning for the Jan Suraaj Party candidate, Piyush Priyadarshi, instead of the RJD nominee.

Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor said, “The deceased was not a member of Jan Suraaj but was supporting our candidate. In democracy, there can be debates, arguments, charges, and allegations—but not murder.”

The incident has heightened tensions in Mokama ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls, scheduled in the constituency on November 6.