Patna. After amendments to the Bihar Prison Laws, former MP Anand Mohan and 25 other inmates were acquitted last week, sparking controversy over the government's decision. Meanwhile, there's a growing chorus for the release of two other influential figures, Anant Singh and Prabhunath Singh.
Prabhunath Singh, a four-time RJD MP, is currently incarcerated in Hazaribagh Jail, Jharkhand. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2017 after being convicted in the 1995 murder of Janata Dal legislator Ashok Singh. He has been in prison since. On the other hand, there's also a rising demand for the release of Anant Singh. Anant Singh is currently serving time at Patna's Beur Jail. In 2019, an AK-47 rifle was recovered from Anand Singh's ancestral home, and he was found guilty in the case last year, resulting in a 10-year sentence. When Anant Singh was convicted in this case, he was an RJD legislator, but his assembly membership ended after the conviction.
Who is advocating for their release?
Swarna Kranti Dal's leader Krishna Kumar Kallu has started a campaign for the release of Prabhunath Singh and Anant Singh from prison. He claims to be ready to go to any extent to secure their liberation.
Source: aajtak
BJP claims: Return of the 'Jungle Raj' in Bihar
The plea for the release of Prabhunath Singh and Anant Singh following Anand Mohan's acquittal has led the BJP to allege that Nitish Kumar, under RJD's pressure, released Anand Mohan and may now have to free all the notorious criminals in Bihar. They fear this could signal a full-fledged return to the 'Jungle Raj' era in the state.
Anand Mohan Singh was granted release
Anand Mohan among 26 inmates was released last week by the Bihar government. Anand Mohan was convicted for the murder of IAS officer Krishnaiah, who was the District Magistrate of Gopalganj, Bihar. When he was passing through Muzaffarpur district in 1994, he was brutally murdered by a mob reportedly instigated by the notorious strongman Anand Mohan. At the time, police named Anand Mohan, his wife Lovely, and four others in the murder case.
For the murder of Krishnaiah, Anand Mohan was sentenced. In the 1994 collector murder case, Anand Mohan Singh was given the death penalty in 2007, which the High Court commuted to life imprisonment in 2008. Now, after serving life imprisonment, Anand Mohan was released due to changes made by the Bihar government to the Prison Act.
Bihar government amends regulations
The Bihar government has amended Rule 481 I of the Prison Act 2012. Previously, due to the existing rules, the release of Anand Mohan, even after serving 14 years, was not possible. Therefore, the government has now removed the murder of an on-duty government servant from the category of exceptions. The notification for this change was issued by the government on April 10th.
