RJD leader and former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav was arrested on the evening of July 25, 2026, in connection with protests over the NEET paper leak in Patna, his lawyer claimed on Sunday. The arrest was made before a formal First Information Report was registered, according to lawyer Jagannath Singh.
Arrest Timeline: Lawyer's Allegation
Singh stated that the FIR against Yadav was registered on July 26, while the arrest occurred around 7:30 pm on July 25 at a mall in Patna. Yadav was produced before a judicial magistrate court at approximately 12:15 am on Sunday, which remanded him to judicial custody. He is currently lodged in Beur Central Jail. “The arrest was made around 7.30 pm on July 25 evening from a mall in Patna. He was produced before the judicial magistrate court around 12.15 am on Sunday, which sent him to judicial custody. My client is now in Beur Central Jail,” Singh said. He added that he would approach a competent court on Monday seeking Yadav's bail.
Police Claims of Escalation
The police alleged that Yadav's actions led to an escalation of the NEET paper leak-related protests in Patna on Saturday, which resulted in property damage. Shortly after Yadav joined protesters during a sit-in at Ram Gulam Chowk, he was detained and taken away in a police vehicle. The police have not commented on the lawyer's allegation regarding the timing of the arrest relative to the FIR.
Political Reactions and Context
Reacting to Yadav's arrest, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, who is contesting the Bankipur Assembly bypoll, claimed that Yadav was targeted for supporting him. “Tej Pratap Yadav supported me, so he was sent to jail. The BJP is harassing leaders of Jan Suraaj Party and those who are supporting us by misusing the administration,” Kishor said. Yadav, who floated the Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) after being expelled from his father Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD, had recently announced support for Kishor in the Bankipur bypoll. This came after the returning officer rejected the nomination of JJD's candidate Vina Mandavi. Yadav had stated that while Bankipur is considered a BJP stronghold, public sentiment now favours political change.
The NEET paper leak protests have been ongoing, with students demanding an investigation and justice. Yadav's involvement and subsequent arrest have intensified the political dimensions of the issue in Bihar.
