Independent MP Pappu Yadav Arrested in 1995 Case, Raises Security Fears as Health Concerns Emerge

Patna: Independent Member of Parliament from Purnia, Pappu Yadav, was arrested by the Patna Police on Friday in connection with a case dating back to 1995, triggering sharp political reactions and renewed debate over the handling of long-pending legal matters involving public representatives. The arrest followed his alleged failure to appear before the court on a scheduled date during the ongoing trial.

Patna SP (City) Bhanu Pratap Singh confirmed that the case was originally registered under the old Indian Penal Code (IPC), which has now been replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges invoked in the case include Sections 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 448 (house trespass), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 120B (criminal conspiracy). The case is linked to Gardanibagh Police Station in Patna.

Briefing journalists, SP Bhanu Pratap Singh said the trial was underway and the MP was required to appear before the court. “This is a 1995 case registered under the old IPC, now replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The charges include Sections 419, 420, 468, 448, 506 and 120B. The matter pertains to Gardanibagh police station. The trial was in progress, and the MP was supposed to be present in court, but he did not appear on the scheduled date. Therefore, he has been arrested,” Singh stated.

The police official further said that Pappu Yadav had been provided with his prescribed medicines and that his caretaker was accompanying him. “He is being taken for a medical examination, after which he will be produced at the police station. Further details will be shared in due course,” the SP added.

Soon after his arrest, concerns were raised about the MP’s health. Late Friday night, Pappu Yadav was first admitted to the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS). Subsequently, as his condition reportedly worsened, he was shifted on a stretcher to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on Saturday for further evaluation.

PMCH Superintendent Dr. Rajiv Kumar Singh mentioned that medical examinations were underway. “His ultrasound is being conducted. We did not feel it appropriate to move him inside crowded areas as it could cause inconvenience to other patients,” Dr. Singh said, adding that doctors were closely monitoring his condition.

The case itself stems from a complaint lodged nearly three decades ago at Gardanibagh police station. According to the complainant, a residential property was allegedly taken on rent through misrepresentation and later used as a Member of Parliament’s office, a fact that was allegedly concealed at the time of renting. When the landlord discovered the true use of the premises, he approached the police, accusing the accused of cheating and fraud.

Over the years, the case moved slowly through the judicial process. Due to repeated non-appearance by the accused, the court first issued arrest warrants, followed by a proclamation order. When these steps also failed to secure their presence, the court finally issued an order for attachment of property, leading to intensified police action.

As police reached his Mandiri residence in Patna to take him into custody, Pappu Yadav expressed serious apprehensions about his safety. Speaking to reporters, he said, “My health is not good. I don’t know what will happen to me.” He alleged that the police action posed a threat to his life and insisted that he should be taken directly to court rather than to a police station.

Prior to his arrest, Yadav said that the court had summoned him for the next day and had even suggested the possibility of house arrest. He questioned the urgency of arresting him in a case that was nearly 35 years old. He also raised objections to police personnel arriving in plain clothes, saying it caused him to fear for his life.

“I suspect these people could get me killed. I will go straight to court. I will not go to the police station. If they want, they can place me under house arrest. The court has called me. The police came here in civil dress like criminals. I thought they had come to kill me. Is this a criminal’s house? A case was filed about 35 years ago, and now the police have come to arrest me in that very case,” Pappu Yadav said.

Police sources said that after several hours of effort, the MP was taken into custody and first brought for medical examination, following standard procedure. They maintained that all actions were carried out strictly as per court orders and denied allegations of any ill intent.

The arrest of Pappu Yadav in a three-decade-old case has become a major talking point in Bihar’s political circles. Supporters of the MP have termed the action excessive and politically motivated, while others have stressed that the law must take its course, irrespective of an individual’s political standing.

As legal proceedings continue and medical reports are awaited, the case is being closely watched for its legal, political and administrative implications. The development underscores the complex intersection of long-pending judicial matters, political accountability and law enforcement in the state.

Team Maverick.