Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav was remanded to 14-day judicial custody on Monday by a Patna court in connection with the violence that erupted during the Bihar bandh called over the NEET paper leak scandal. The court order came hours after the Patna police produced him before the magistrate, seeking his custody for interrogation.
Background of the Arrest
Tej Pratap, the elder son of former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, was arrested on Sunday from his residence in Patna after a case was registered against him for allegedly inciting violence during the statewide shutdown on July 25. The bandh, called by the RJD and other opposition parties, protested the alleged leak of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) question paper. The protest turned violent in several parts of Patna, with reports of stone-pelting, arson, and clashes between protesters and police.
According to the Patna Senior Superintendent of Police, “At least 12 vehicles were torched and 30 people were injured during the agitation. Tej Pratap Yadav was seen leading a mob that attacked a government building. We have video evidence.” The police also claimed that his provocative speeches led to the escalation of violence.
Court Proceedings
During the hearing, the prosecution argued that Tej Pratap Yadav’s presence in police custody was necessary to unearth the conspiracy behind the violence and identify other accused. However, the defense counsel contended that his client was being “framed” and that “no credible evidence” linked him to the clashes.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Rajesh Kumar dismissed the police remand plea and ordered judicial custody until August 9. The court observed that the investigation was at an initial stage and that the accused could be interrogated in jail custody. Tej Pratap was then taken to Beur Central Jail in Patna.
NEET Paper Leak and Political Fallout
The NEET paper leak, which allegedly occurred on July 22, has sparked widespread outrage across Bihar. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has confirmed that the question paper was compromised in two centers in Muzaffarpur and Patna. The CBI has taken over the investigation, and multiple arrests have been made so far.
Opposition parties, led by the RJD and Congress, have accused the state government of negligence and demanded a High Court-monitored probe. The Bihar bandh on July 25 witnessed severe disruptions, with schools, businesses, and public transport affected. The Patna administration had imposed Section 144 in sensitive areas.
Reacting to Tej Pratap’s jailing, RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said, “This is a vendetta politics. The BJP government is targeting opposition leaders to divert attention from the paper leak scam. Tej Pratap is a political prisoner.” However, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary countered, “Law and order will not be compromised. Anyone involved in violence will face action.”
Impact and Next Steps
Tej Pratap Yadav’s judicial custody is likely to escalate political tensions ahead of the upcoming assembly by-elections. The RJD has called for a state-wide protest on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the investigation into the NEET paper leak continues, with the CBI conducting raids at several locations in Bihar and Jharkhand.
As of now, over 45 persons have been arrested in connection with the leak, including two NTA officials, according to police sources. The court has barred the media from reporting specifics of the case until the next hearing.
Tej Pratap Yadav had earlier been detained but released in a similar case of protest violence in 2019. His latest arrest is seen as a strong signal from the state government against any disruption of public order.
