Independent MP from Bihar’s Purnea Pappu Yadav’s arrest late Friday night from his Patna residence, after a high-voltage drama, in a 31-year-old case has triggered political outrage, with Opposition leaders alleging political vendetta over his raising of the alleged rape and murder of a NEET aspirant in Patna.
On Saturday, Pappu Yadav was produced before the MP-MLA Court in Patna, where he sought bail citing poor health. The court remanded him to judicial custody and directed that he be provided proper medical care. Later, he was admitted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for two days.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Monday.
Reacting to Pappu Yadav’s arrest, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Nitish Kumar government. In a post on X, he alleged that the Bihar Police arrested Pappu Yadav to intimidate and suppress every voice that demands accountability.
He wrote on X, “The suspicious death of a NEET aspirant in Patna and the subsequent actions have once again exposed the deep rot in the system. When the victim’s family demanded an impartial investigation and justice, the same old BJP-NDA model came into play, diverting the case, harassing the family, and providing protection to the culprits. Fellow MP Pappu Yadav stood firmly as the voice of justice for his daughter. His arrest today is clearly an act of political revenge, meant to intimidate and silence every voice that seeks accountability.”
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi also came out in support of Pappu Yadav. Writing on X, she said, “From Hathras and Unnao to Ankita Bhandari and now Patna, wherever atrocities against women occur, BJP governments stand with the accused instead of delivering justice to the victim. The arrest of MP Pappu Yadav, who raised his voice in this case, is yet another link in this insensitive approach. The agenda of the BJP and its allies is clear, they stand with injustice and oppression.”
CPI (ML) Bihar state secretary Kunal said that the arrest of Pappu Yadav proves that the state government is using the law not as an instrument of justice but as a weapon of political revenge.
He said, “Since the alleged rape-murder case of the NEET aspirant came to light, Pappu Yadav has continuously stood with the victim’s family, raised the demand for justice on public platforms, and exposed the government’s inaction. Instead of arresting the culprits, bringing out the truth, and ensuring justice for the victim’s family, the government is targeting the Opposition. This arrest sends a dangerous message.”