Patna: Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) national president and elder son of Tej Pratap Yadav on Monday moved a Patna court seeking bail in connection with the violence during the Bihar bandh on July 25.Yadav, who is currently lodged in Beur Central Jail under 14-day judicial custody, filed the bail petition through his counsel, advocate Nisha Singh, before the Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court.The bail application questions both the police investigation and the manner in which the case was registered. His lawyer argued that serious penal provisions had been invoked without adequate justification and alleged that the police failed to follow due legal procedure while taking action against him.Speaking to reporters outside the court, advocate Nisha Singh said the most serious charge included in the case was Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (attempt to murder), which, according to her, had no connection with the allegations against Tej Pratap. She alleged that several provisions were added hastily despite lacking any direct link to the incident.The defence also challenged the sequence of events leading to Tej Pratap’s arrest. According to the lawyer, Tej Pratap was detained at around 7.15pm on July 25, whereas the FIR at Gandhi Maidan police station was registered only at about 12.50am. She contended that arresting an accused before the registration of the FIR raises serious questions about the legality of the police action.Refuting the allegation that Tej Pratap incited violence, the lawyer said he neither delivered any provocative speech nor encouraged the protesters. According to her, he was passing through the area in his vehicle when some students requested him to stop. She said he briefly got out of the car, waved the national flag and left the spot.Soon after being shifted to Beur Central Jail, Tej Pratap reportedly complained of chest pain, following which the jail administration kept him under medical observation. His counsel said he already suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure and has now also complained of heart-related discomfort. She argued that his medical condition should be considered while deciding his bail plea.“Given Tej Pratap’s health issues, it is not safe to keep him in jail. We have requested that he be kept under medical observation,” Singh said.Tej Pratap has been booked in the Gandhi Maidan police station case on charges related to rioting, assaulting police personnel, damaging govt property, obstructing public servants from discharging their duties and causing injuries to the Gandhi Maidan station house officer during the Bihar bandh violence. His bail plea is now pending before the court.
