The Supreme Court of India issued notice to Nitish Kumar-led Bihar Government on May 8, in a plea challenging the premature release of dreaded gangster and former Bihar MP Anand Mohan in a case concerning the mob lynching of the Gopalganj District Magistrate G Krishnaiah in 1994.
It is pertinent to note that the Supreme Court sentenced Anand Mohan to life imprisonment for the mob lynching of the Gopalganj District Magistrate in 2012. However, he was released on April 24 after serving only 14 years in prison as Bihar Government remitted his sentence.
As per a circular dated April 10, the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar Government removed the “murderer of a government servant on duty” category of prisoners by amending the Bihar Prisoner’s Manual, 2012. The amendment has specifically been made for the release of criminal-turned-politician Anand Mohan, as per the reports.
Thereafter, G Krishnaiah’s widow Uma Krishnaiah challenged the Bihar Government’s circular and the premature release of the dreaded gangster. The petitioner has argued that the Bihar Government has ignored the prisoner’s conduct and past criminal antecedents, contending that the decision was taken on the basis of “extraneous considerations.”
The petitioner also argued that the Bihar Government’s amendment to the state remission policy facilitating the gangster’s release is contrary to public policy and would demoralise public servants. Furthermore, the petitioner argued that the policy prevalent at the time should be applied.
Who is Anand Mohan?
Anand Mohan Singh Tomar, founder of the now-defunct Bihar People’s Party is considered a close aid to the RJD supremo and especially the Lalu family. He hails from the Saharsa district of Bihar and comes from the Rajput caste.
On December 5, 1994, Anand and his band of criminals attacked and murdered an IAS officer during the funeral of the dreaded gangster Chotan Shukla. Chotan was the brother of former Janata Dal (United) MLA Munna Shukla. Chotan Shukla who has many crimes in his name was allegedly killed in a police encounter. Anand Mohan, who was at Shukla’s funeral procession, attacked and killed the young IAS to avenge Shukla’s killing.
Anand Mohan and six others, including his wife Lovely Anand, were named as accused in the murder that sent shockwaves throughout the country. After the murder, these accused were convicted and Anand Mohan was sentenced to death by Patna High Court in 2007. It is pertinent to note that before the sentencing, Anand Mohan contested and won two successive Lok Sabha elections from Sheohar’s seat in 1996 from Samata Party and in 1998 on an RJD ticket. However, the Supreme Court commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment. He did apply for a reduction of the sentence but his plea was rejected in 2012.
Anand Mohan’s son, Chetan Anand is an RJD MLA. Anand Mohan’s son also holds close ties with the RJD supremo and the Lalu family, especially Tejashvi Yadav and others.
After, Nitish Kumar left BJP to join hands with the RJD for Mahagatbandhan, the demands for the release of Anand Mohan intensified. The RJD also asked its workers to greet Nitish Kumar with ‘release Anand Mohan’ slogans whenever he addressed public meetings.
In January this year, at a public rally in Patna, Nitish Kumar was greeted with Anand Mohan ko riha karo (release Anand Mohan) slogans. He assured the supporters of Anand Mohan that he is “working on it”.
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