Patna, July 23: Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Ashok Kumar Agarwal was arrested late last night for allegedly murdering his employee Dheeraj Kumar on July 17 at his Katihar residence, prompting the BJP to suspend him from the party.

The BJP MLC was produced before chief judicial magistrate (CJM) R.N. Tripathy at his residence early this morning. The CJM forwarded him to judicial custody for two weeks. The next hearing of the case is slated on August 4.

The MLC was sent to Katihar divisional jail amid tight security. Sources said Agarwal’s counsel would file a petition in the court seeking his bail.

Dheeraj (30) was killed in the guardroom of Agarwal’s residence-cum-petrol pump in Katihar, about 325km northeast of the state capital, last Tuesday after he reportedly refused to go to a road construction site in Araria district where Agarwal’s firm was executing some work.

The victim’s brother, Neeraj, had made Agarwal a named accused in the case besides three-four unknown persons. But Agarwal claimed that Dheeraj was killed after stray bullets hit him because of accidental firing from the carbine of one of his bodyguards.

Katihar superintendent of police (SP) Kim said: “The statement of Agarwal did not match with the report of the forensic examination of the firearm and evidence gathered from the murder spot. Hence, Agarwal was arrested.”

A meeting of the forensic (ballistic) experts was held in Patna last evening to analyse the evidence gathered against the MLC. “The Katihar SP was apprised of the findings of the ballistic experts soon after the meet was over,” a senior IPS officer posted at the police headquarters said.

SP Kim said Agarwal was arrested from his residence. But the MLC’s supporters asserted that Agarwal was summoned to Town police station for interrogation and subsequently arrested. “Had Agarwal any inkling about the arrest, he would not have visited the police station,” a supporter of Agarwal said.

Kim, who assumed charge of Katihar on Saturday, initiated action against the ruling alliance legislator only after getting nod from the state police headquarters, which examined the evidence against Agarwal. The SP said the role of the MLC’s bodyguard, Awadh Kishore Yadav alias Brahmadeo Yadav, was also being examined.

“If the police find any evidence against the bodyguard of the MLC, suitable action will be initiated against him also,” Kim said, adding that the arrest of the MLC did not mean the end of the investigation in the case.

Taking note of Agarwal’s arrest, the state unit of the BJP suspended him from the party today. “Agarwal has been suspended from the party with immediate effect. If the charges are found to be true, he may have to face dismissal from the membership of the party,” BJP state unit chief C.P. Thakur said.

On whether Agarwal would be re-inducted in the party or not, Thakur said: “If he is acquitted by the court, the party would reconsider his induction.”

Agarwal, a renowned industrialist of the Seemanchal area, was named accused in several cases, including the murder of one Vijay Kumar Thakur, earlier.