Patna:(BiharTimes) The arrest of Purnea MP Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav, in a 1995 forgery case has triggered sharp political reactions in Bihar, with the ruling NDA asserting that the action was taken strictly in compliance with judicial orders, while Opposition leaders have questioned the timing of the move.
Reacting to the arrest, Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi said that Pappu Yadav has been facing criminal cases for several years and had been declared an absconder by the court. “Attachment and seizure orders had already been issued. The court has clearly stated that an absconding accused must surrender. Once warrants and attachment orders are issued, it becomes the responsibility of the administration to ensure arrest and imprisonment,” he said.
JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan said the case is more than three decades old and is being dealt with by the judiciary. “This is a 31-year-old fraud case that has been handed over to the CBI. There may be delays in judicial proceedings, but there is no injustice. Ultimately, one has to face the consequences of their actions,” he said.
JD(U) spokesperson and Bihar MLC Neeraj Kumar also rejected allegations of political vendetta, saying judicial proceedings should not be linked to unrelated political issues. “If an MP has been declared absconding and a confiscation order has been issued, how can this be linked to the NEET case? The judiciary issued the warrant and ordered confiscation, and the administration acted accordingly,” he said.
However, the Opposition raised questions over the timing of the arrest. RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said it was surprising that urgency was shown in a decades-old case. “A case that is 35 years old suddenly becomes urgent — why? At a time when there is public outrage in Bihar over the death of a NEET aspirant and all parties are raising questions, one has to ask whether this action is meant to silence certain voices,” he said.
Pappu Yadav was arrested by Bihar Police on Friday in connection with the 1995 forgery case, leading to dramatic scenes at his Patna residence. He was later admitted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) after complaining of health problems.
According to official sources, the MP-MLA Special Court had ordered the attachment of property against Pappu Yadav and two others after they repeatedly failed to appear before the court despite arrest warrants and proclamations. The case relates to the alleged fraudulent renting of a house and its misuse by projecting it as an MP’s office, following which FIR No. 552/1995 was registered at the Gardanibagh police station.
Pappu Yadav has alleged police high-handedness and claimed political vendetta, asserting that he was being targeted for raising his voice on sensitive issues, including the recent death of a NEET aspirant. The police, however, have maintained that the arrest was carried out strictly in accordance with court orders.
