The serene atmosphere of Darbhanga was shattered with the shocking news of the murder of Jeetan Sahni (70), the father of Vikassheel Insaan Party leader Mukesh Sahani. The horrifying incident unfolded in Supaul Bazaar, where Jeetan was found lifeless in his home on Tuesday morning, bearing ghastly wounds inflicted by a sharp weapon. Darbhanga SSP, Jagunath Reddy, has confirmed the incident, and the motive remains unclear with the police promising swift clarity on the situation. Recently, Mukesh Sahani gained media attention for his helicopter campaign tour with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav during the Lok Sabha elections.
Jeetan Sahni, who resided in Afzala Panchayat of Darbhanga's Supaul Bazaar, fell victim to what is being declared a major crime in Bihar. Mukesh Sahani, a well-known political figure in the region and former Minister of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries in the Bihar government, leads his own VIP party. The manner in which Jeetan Sahni's life was taken is heartbreaking, with the assailants perpetrating the act with extreme cruelty, as evidenced by the multiple wounds across the body.
Jeetan Sahni lived in his village home...
Mukesh is currently in Mumbai and is expected to depart for his paternal home shortly. Jeetan lived alone in the family home, his wife having passed away eight years ago. Both of his sons, Mukesh and Santosh Sahni, live outside the village, as does his daughter Rinku Sahni, who is married and resides in Mumbai. Other family members also live in the village. According to local media reports, the household regularly employed two servants and a driver.
In addition to his paternal responsibilities, Jeetan was known in the village for his work selling fish. Meanwhile, the police are investigating whether the attackers entered the home with intentions of theft, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to delve into the murder.
Source: aajtak
Mukesh Sahani, a pivotal figure in the Nishad community politics
Known as 'Son of Mallah' in Bihar, Mukesh Sahani originates from the Mallah/Nishad community and holds significant influence over voters from his community. He has consistently been engaged in politics representing the fishermen, which is considered a substantial vote bank in Bihar. According to Sahani, the community, which includes about two dozen sub-castes, constitutes roughly 14% of the population in the state.
Bihar's substantial Nishad community
With a drive to establish his party, Mukesh actively advocates for reservation for the Nishad community, much like in other states. The most significant presence of the Nishad community is felt in areas such as Darbhanga, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, and Khagaria. According to the caste census of Bihar in 2023, the Nishad community's population exceeds 34 lakhs, representing 2.60% of the state's total population.
Mukesh Sahani, a trusted ally of Tejashwi Yadav
Mukesh's VIP party is currently part of both the grand alliance and India Block. His close association with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav propelled them to undertake a state-wide election rally tour via helicopter. However, VIP party candidates did not secure victories in the elections. Sahani's party was allotted three seats from RJD's quota during the Lok Sabha elections.
Controversies followed as Tejashwi Yadav and Mukesh Sahani shared a viral video of them enjoying fish in a helicopter, which stirred up political debates during the Navratri festival. Later, Tejashwi celebrated the completion of 200 rallies with a helicopter cake-cutting ceremony, where Mukesh brought in the cake as a surprise.
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Mukesh Sahani first captured attention in 2015
Sahani became a topic of political discussion in 2015 when he accompanied BJP leader Amit Shah to rallies and election campaigns in Bihar, before forming his own party. He was said to be Shah's discovery and used to attend rallies with him by helicopter. Later, Sahani distanced himself from the NDA and joined the grand alliance for the 2019 general elections, contesting three seats but facing defeat.
Mukesh joined the grand alliance in 2022
When the Assembly elections approached in 2020 and negotiations around seat-sharing failed between Mukesh and the RJD, he left the grand alliance to join the NDA. His party contested 11 seats and secured four legislative members, although Mukesh himself did not win. Subsequently, the BJP nominated him to the Legislative Council and appointed him as a minister in Nitish Kumar's government. However, circa March 2022, three of his legislators joined the BJP, leading to strains in his relations with the party and his eventual return to the grand alliance. In 2023, he launched a 100-day Nishad Reservation Movement covering Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh to demand reservations for the Nishad community.
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Mukesh Sahani, once a film set designer
Sahani started his career as a Bollywood set designer before entering politics in 2013, making an impression with aggressive advertising in Bihar's newspapers and branding himself as the 'Son of Mallah.' He founded the Nishad Development Association and steadily made his presence known within his community and political circles. Mukesh moved to Mumbai at 19 due to financial constraints, initially working at a cosmetic store. Eventually, he engaged in set design for Bollywood films, reportedly working on blockbuster movies like Shah Rukh Khan's 'Devdas' and Salman Khan's 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan.' Mukesh's steadfast work in the entertainment industry led to the establishment of his company, Mukesh Cine World Pvt Ltd.
