Fugitive RJD MLA accused of raping minor surrenders in Bihar court

Biharsharif: Controversial RJD MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav, accused of raping a minor girl last month, surrendered in a court here in Bihar’s Nalanda district on Thursday after being on the run. Yadav, 50, MLA from Nawada, surrendered in the court of Additional District Judge Rashmi Sikha in the alleged rape of a 15-year-old school girl studying in class X on 6 February. The court sent him to 14 days judicial custody and the MLA was forwarded to Biharsharif divisional jail later on. He travelled to the court in a car whose glasses were covered by newspapers to hide his identity. [caption id=“attachment_2668238” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. IBN[/caption] People close to the MLA said he changed three vehicles before coming to the court in the car. When reporters sought his reaction over the episode, Yadav said, “I have faith in court.” Yadav, who had served as a minister in the government of Rabri Devi, was eluding police for the past one month. The MLA’s episode had triggered widespread condemnation for the grand secular alliance government headed by Nitish Kumar. The MLA had allegedly raped the girl who was lured by a woman to the MLA’s residence here on 6 February. Yadav had allegedly paid Rs 30,000 to the woman for bringing the girl. It was reported that the MLA had prepared a CD of the obscene act and had threatened to hand it over to his security guards if she resisted rape. The MLA was denied anticipatory bail by both Nalanda district court as well the Patna High Court. The court of ADJ Rashmi Sikha had given permission for attachment of properties of the fugitive MLA at Nalanda, Nawada and Patna, which was carried out by police. The RJD has put him under suspension. PTI