Special prosecutor sought for cases against Anant

PATNA: The district police would soon write to district administration for appointing a special public prosecutor and conducting speedy trials in two cases lodged recently against independent Mokama MLA Anant Singh with two different police stations.

The first case, recommended for speedy trail, is lodged with Pandarak police station where Anant is accused of hatching a failed conspiracy to kill rivals Bhola Singh and Mukesh Singh.

The FIR against Singh and eight others was lodged in this connection on July 15. The MLA’s telephonic conversation with contract killers had gone viral.

The second case is related to recovery of AK-47 rifle, its 26 cartridges and two hand grenades from the MLA’s residence at Ladma under Barh police station area on August 16.

Patna SSP Garima Malik conformed that she had received the recommendations for conducting speedy trial in both the cases along with appointment of a special prosecutor for conducting trial. “Further recommendation to the authorities concerned for its implementation would be made soon,” she said.

When asked why the MLA was not produced before Patna court through videoconferencing instead of bringing him from Bhagalpur jail repeatedly, Malik said it is for the court to decide. “Police would make a request to district judge for MLA’s production through videoconferencing,” she added.

In reply to another query, Malik said it is due to sensitivity and importance of both the cases that a request was made to district administration for appointing a special prosecutor and speedy trial.

Sources said law secretary, on the basis of DM’s letter, would appoint an eligible advocate after scrutiny as special public prosecutor in both the cases.

When asked, Patna DM Kumar Ravi said necessary action would be taken as soon as any recommendation is received from the SSP.

In reply to a query, the DM said it was from administrative point of view that the case related to recovery of assault rifle and grenades was transferred from Barh court to Patna civil court. “The Barh court was getting crowded during the MLA’s production. This was also a reason for getting the case transferred,” he said.

The Pandarak case against MLA had got automatically transferred from Barh to special MP-MLA court.

Out of nine accused, police have already filed chargesheet against Singh and six others in Pandarak case on October 23. Chargesheet in rifle and grenade recovery case was filed against MLA on November 5. Two accused Uday Yadav and Vikash Singh were still evading arrest in Pandarak case and chargesheet against them is expected to be submitted within a week.