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| Anant Singh |
An FIR was lodged against controversial JD(U) MLA Anant Kumar Singh on Tuesday for allegedly demanding extortion money from a building developer.
The builder, Tarun Singh, had given a written petition to Sri Krishna Puri police on October 4, alleging that he was being harassed by the MLA and his goons after he failed to pay the extortion money. Four days on, the FIR was formally lodged against the ruling party MLA and his four associates.
City superintendent of police Jayant Kant said the allegation against the MLA was being verified. “Action would be initiated against the accused if the allegation is found to be true,” he told The Telegraph.
A source said Tarun, the proprietor of Infrastructure (Private) Company, had a dispute with the Mokama strongman over a plot of land on the upcoming Boring Canal Road. The MLA was reportedly eyeing it for building a hotel, the source said.
Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) promised that action would be taken against the accused.
“I have asked the station house officer to inquire into the matter and initiate action accordingly,” he said.
This is not an isolated incident when the two-term legislator from Mokama has been made a named accused in a criminal case. He had earlier hogged the limelight for allegedly trying to encroach a portion of land meant for a park in the upscale Patliputra Colony.
The move of the MLA was vehemently opposed by a section of the residents, including social welfare minister Parveen Amanullah. The minister’s hullabaloo forced Singh to make a hasty retreat.
Singh, who is facing charges of murder and extortion, was earlier arrested for assaulting a journalist at his official residence in Patna.
Sources said the MLA had immense clout on the police. He has been given a clean chit in all the cases lodged against him in the city and his native place Nadma, under the jurisdiction of Barh police station.
Singh is, however, at loggerheads with his archrival Viveka Pahalwan — once his close associate.
Pahalwan, also a native of Nadma in rural Patna, is at present lodged in Barh sub-divisional jail for allegedly plotting a murderous attack on Singh a few years ago while the latter was on his way to his native village.