Ritlal Yadav, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA from Bihar’s Danapur Meeting constituency, surrendered earlier than a courtroom in Danapur on Thursday morning amid an investigation towards him relating to allegations of extortion. He was subsequently despatched to Beur Jail to spend 14 days in judicial custody.
Metropolis Superintendent of Police (West), Patna, Sarath R S mentioned those that surrendered included Ritlal Yadav, his brother Pinku Yadav, brother-in-law Chikku Yadav and affiliate Shravan Yadav.
Patna police had been looking for Ritlal Yadav (53) and his associates for over every week following a case registered towards them beneath BNS sections 308(5), 111(2), 111(3), 339 and three(5), coping with extortion, organised crime, and different associated prices.
Relating to the case, Danapur Assistant Superintendent of Police Bhanu Pratap Singh mentioned earlier, “A builder lodged a grievance at Khagaul police station, alleging that Ritlal Yadav and his associates had demanded cash and issued dying threats in reference to an residence building mission in Kothwa village.”
On April 11, Patna police carried out raids in collaboration with the Bihar Particular Process Power (STF) and different models following the grievance filed by the builder from Khagaul space.
Appearing on a court-issued search warrant, police had raided round 11 areas related to Yadav and his aides. Throughout these raids, authorities seized over Rs 10.5 lakh in money, clean cheques price Rs 77.5 lakh, 14 property-related paperwork, 17 cheque books, 5 stamps, six pendrives, a walkie-talkie and different gadgets, authorities mentioned.
On Thursday, whereas being taken from the courtroom, the MLA claimed the case was a part of a “conspiracy to remove him”.
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“I’m not intimidated… I’ll contest the election, even from jail, with my celebration’s ticket and the individuals’s help,” Yadav mentioned. He additionally claimed that there was a homicide plot towards him.
In accordance with the FIR, building firm proprietor Kumar Gaurav has alleged that after beginning a building mission in 2023, he was “pressured to obtain building supplies solely from Pinku Yadav, brother of MLA Ritlal Yadav”.
The builder additionally alleged that the MLA himself had demanded Rs 30 lakh to permit building work in his constituency. Whereas the complainant claimed that he initially paid Rs 4 lakh, the accused have been threatening him and abusing his employees, forcing them to go away the development web site.
“Ten days earlier than the FIR, Chikku visited the Kothwa web site, saying, ‘I’ve been despatched by the MLA… How did you purchase land right here with out the MLA’s permission? You should be conscious that those that owned this land earlier than, we have now had them killed. Do fast settlement and organize Rs 10 lakh,’” the FIR mentioned.
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In accordance with the grievance, the builder purportedly paid Rs 10 lakh the following day to one of many MLA’s males who got here with Chikku.
The JD(U) known as on the RJD to “rein in” leaders like Ritlal Yadav. The ruling celebration’s chief spokesperson and MLC Neeraj Kumar mentioned: “It’s ludicrous that the particular person (Ritlal) who would terrorise individuals in his space and demand levies and cuts in land buy and home building, has now alleged that there’s menace to his life. RJD chief Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who tries to make regulation and order a problem lately, ought to rein in leaders like Ritlal.”
Ritlal Yadav has 42 legal circumstances towards him, together with on prices of homicide, tried homicide, extortion, rioting, and violations beneath the Arms Act throughout a number of police jurisdictions in Patna. He has not been convicted in any of those.
In 2003, Yadav was booked for the homicide of BJP chief Satyanarayan Sinha, however was acquitted by the Patna MP and MLA courtroom in 2024. The sufferer’s widow, former Danapur MLA Asha Sinha, has challenged this acquittal within the Patna Excessive Courtroom, the place the case is pending.