Gangster Anand Mohan's Release A Tact To Rake In Rajput Votes: Widow Of Lynched IAS Officer

The Nitish Kumar government removed a clause earlier this month that prohibited the remission of jail term for those convicted of murdering a public servant, benefitting Anand Mohan, a Rajput leader.

Gangster Anand Mohan is being released to secure Rajput votes in the elections, said Uma Devi, the widow of former IAS officer G Krishnaiah. Anand Mohan was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for instigating the murder of the IAS officer. 

G Krishnaiah, the then District Magistrate of Gopalganj, was assassinated by a mob allegedly provoked by Anand Mohan Singh. A lower court in Bihar sentenced the gangster-turned-politician to death in 2007. However, the Patna High Court commuted it to life imprisonment, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2012.

The Bihar government removed a clause earlier this month that prohibited the remission of jail term for those convicted of murdering a public servant while on duty.

"We are not happy, as it is wrong. There is caste politics in Bihar. He is a Rajput and can garner the votes of his community. That is why he is being released from jail. Otherwise, what is the need for bringing out a criminal from jail? He will now be given an election ticket," Uma Devi said.

"It's in a way encouraging the criminals. It sends out a message that you can commit a crime, and go to jail, but then get freed and join politics. A death penalty would have been good," she was quoted as saying by NDTV.

The state's law department stated in its notification that the new rules apply to prisoners who have served the actual sentence of 14 years or a sentence of 20 years with remission.

"In light of the Bihar state sentence remission council meeting on April 20, a decision was made for the release of prisoners who have served actual sentences of 14 years or sentences of 20 years with remission," according to the notification.

The amendment to the Bihar prison manual benefits Anand Mohan Singh, a Rajput leader, whose son Chetan Anand is an RJD MLA from Sheohar.

Several Rajput politicians have been calling for Singh's early release for the past two years. Even Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has hinted that he "stands by his former colleague" on multiple occasions. Nitish Kumar's support to the Singh family is quite well known. Nitish Kumar and Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav even attended the engagement function of Chetan Anand on Monday.