Bihar election: Patna police arrest Anant Singh days before polls over Mokama murder

Janata Dal (United) candidate and the former MLA of Mokama, Anant Singh, was arrested by the Patna Police on Saturday in connection with the murder case of Jan Suraaj Party worker Dularchand Yadav. The news was confirmed by Patna senior superintendent of Police Kartikeya Sharma on Saturday night.

According to the superintendent, Singh was arrested along with two associates, Manikant Thakur and Ranjit Ram, from Bedna village. The officials mentioned that a massive police operation involving around 150 personnel was carried out at Singh’s residence in Barh, near Patna, late Saturday night.

Singh was famously known as a strongman in Bihar Politics. The former MLA was taken into custody and brought to Patna for interrogation, The Times of India reported. “Further details will be shared during a scheduled press conference at 1:30 am on Sunday,” the SSP said.

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“On 30 October, there was a clash between two groups of competing candidates. Stones were pelted, resulting in injuries. A dead body was recovered after the incident. The deceased, Dularchand Yadav, aged 75 years, was a resident of the village where this clash occurred… Both sides registered cases, and police started investigating the case. Based on evidence, eyewitness accounts, and the postmortem report of the deceased, it appears that the Model Code of Conduct was violated, and it is a serious issue,” SSP Patna, Kartikeya K Sharma, told local reporters.

“It was found that all this happened in the presence of the candidate, Anant Singh, who is also the main accused in the case. Anant Singh has been arrested. His accomplices, Manikant Thakur and Ranjeet Ram, have also been arrested with him. All three will be presented before the magistrate, and due investigation will follow,” he added.

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What the case is about

The case pertains to the killing of former RJD leader Dularchand Yadav, who was attacked in the Mokama Tal area on Thursday afternoon while campaigning for Jan Suraaj’s candidate Piyush Priyadarshi. Patna DM Thiyagarajan SM said the incident was taken “very seriously.”

He maintained that the Model Code of Conduct will be enforced strictly, adding that all licensed arms must be deposited during polls to ensure peaceful elections. During the Mokama Tal campaign event, a violent clash erupted between rival groups, during which Yadav was shot by an unidentified assailant and later run over by a vehicle.

The postmortem report released on Friday suggested that Yadav’s ribcage was crushed, suggesting he was run over after being shot. An FIR was eventually filed by Yadav’s grandson Neeraj Kumar, named Anant Singh, his nephews Karamveer and Ranveer, and two others as accused.

Police sources told TOI that further arrests may follow as the investigation is still ongoing. Reacting to the arrest, Jan Suraaj candidate Piyush Priyadarshi told ANI, “This is a good gesture, but it would have been good had they taken action sooner. Today, he was moving around in a convoy of 50 vehicles and even participated in election campaigning. When an FIR was registered against him, he should have been arrested sooner… But better late than never. What is important now is how the police investigate the whole case… It is a relief for his family.”

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India undertook strong action after Yadav’s killing. It ordered the replacement of the Patna Rural SP and Mokama returning officer, and initiated disciplinary proceedings against three officials for lapses. The poll body also directed the immediate suspension of SDPO Abhishek Singh and sought a compliance report by 12 noon on November 2, 2025.

It is pertinent to note that the Mokama Assembly seat will be voting on November 6. It is notoriously known as a stronghold of powerful “bahubalis” who wield influence during elections. Yadav’s killing has intensified the political battle in Bihar, with opposition leaders, including RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, accusing the administration of failing to maintain law and order.